The Boston Celtics (14-14) host the Atlanta Hawks (12-16) for a second straight game Friday at the TD Garden. The tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Hawks-Celtics NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Atlanta upset Boston 122-114 Wednesday as 1.5-point underdogs thanks to a 40-point game from PG Trae Young. The Celtics were pretty banged-up though; Boston was without three starters, and the replacements got destroyed in the head-to-head matchups.
Neither team is playing good ball right now as the Hawks are 2-7 overall and 3-6 ATS this month while the Celtics are just 2-5 overall and ATS over their last seven.
Hawks at Celtics: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Hawks +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Celtics -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Hawks +4.5 (-120) | Celtics -4.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: 225.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Hawks at Celtics: Key injuries
Hawks
- SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) out
- SF De’Andre Hunter (knee) out
- PG Rajon Rondo (back) out
Celtics
- SG Marcus Smart (calf) out
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Hawks at Celtics: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Celtics 120, Hawks 110
Money line (ML)
PASS because Boston is the right side, but the Celtics at -175 or more is out of my price range. Young and PF John Collins generally play well against a Celtics team that has looked shaky recently.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The probable returns of Kemba Walker and big Daniel Theis even the matchup for Boston at each position. Hawks bigs Clint Capela and Collins scored a combined 44 points on 84.2% shooting and added 19 boards vs. the Celtics Wednesday.
Kemba lights up Young: Kemba is averaging 26.8 points per game and shooting 42.9% from deep in four career games against Young. Also, the market is backing Boston because its loss to Atlanta Wednesday was more of a bad situation for the Celtics rather than a bad matchup.
TAKE CELTICS -4.5 (+100) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
Bookmakers have projected this Hawks-Celtics game at 225.5 on the heels of their Wednesday meeting that went Over the total by 14 points.
Most of my handicap on the Hawks-Celtics total Wednesday applies to Friday’s matchup, and I don’t think the line movement for this game’s total was big enough. Theis’ return should give Boston more floor spacing, which obviously helps Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba’s offense.
TAKE OVER 225.5 (-110) for 1 unit.
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Also see:
- MVP Race: Rudy Gobert enters the Top 10 (Hoops Hype)
- Brown, Tatum come in 4th, 5th respectively in East All-Star final returns (Celtics Wire)
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