The Boston Celtics (7-7) travel to the “Big Peach” Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Atlanta Hawks (6-9) at State Farm Arena. Below, we look at the Celtics vs. Hawks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Boston has covered in seven straight contests and has won three of the past four games including a 98-92 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday. The Celtics are 9-5 ATS and 5-8-1 O/U with the 15th-best net rating (plus-0.8).
Atlanta snapped out of a recent six-game losing skid with back-to-back double-digit home victories over the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday and the Orlando Magic Monday. The Hawks 5-10 ATS and 7-8 O/U with the 20th-best net rating (minus-1.4).
The Hawks won the season series with the Celtics last year 2-1 overall and ATS with the Over cashing in each meeting. Atlanta’s Trae Young destroyed Boston last season, averaging 34.7 points per game on 75.7% true shooting (.610/.444/.909) with a plus-13 net rating.
Celtics at Hawks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Hawks -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Celtics +4.5 (-107) | Hawks -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 215.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Celtics at Hawks key injuries
Celtics
- C Robert Williams (knee) questionable
- SF Jaylen Brown (hamstring) out
Hawks
- SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) questionable
- SG Kevin Huerter (hamstring) questionable
- SF De’Andre Hunter (wrist) out
Celtics at Hawks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 107, Hawks 102
Money line
Slight “LEAN” to the CELTICS (+155) for a tiny wager if at all because I “like” Boston to cover the spread and think there’s a little value on the underdog’s money line in this spot.
Trae should have a tougher time against this version of the Celtics who could have an elite defensive backcourt. It should be more difficult for Trae to get into a grove with the combination of guards Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart defending him.
Furthermore, Smart didn’t play in any of the three Celtics-Hawks meetings last season. Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and he averages the second-most steals per game (2.5).
Against the spread
BET the CELTICS +4.5 (-107) because they get better looks than the Hawks and Boston has a few strength on weakness edges over Atlanta.
For instance, ShotQuality.com ranks the Celtics eighth in adjusted shot quality differential while the Hawks rank 18th. Also, Boston contests the fifth-most shots per game whereas Atlanta the third-fewest shots per game.
On top of that, the Celtics play a lot of isolation offense and run a lot of their action through screens. Well, the Hawks have the third-worst defensive effective field goal shooting vs. isolation offense and the worst points per possession vs. plays off of screens.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 215.5 (-107) because Boston has the fourth-best defensive rating this month and a vast majority of the market is betting the Over, according to the Yahoo! Sports app.
Also, the Under is 5-1-1 in the last seven Celtics games.
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