The Boston Celtics (30-25) travel to Barclays Center Tuesday to take on the Brooklyn Nets (29-24). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Celtics vs. Nets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Nets have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA. F Kevin Durant has played well this season, but his injury has been debilitating to Brooklyn and has aided in its current eight-game losing streak.
Brooklyn has only covered the spread one time in its last eight games. The Nets are now 20-32-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season. It could be another tough night against a rested and talented Celtics team with two members of their Big 3 sidelined.
Boston started off the season slow but has now won five games in a row, covering in three of those five outings. The Celtics are led by F Jayson Tatum and G Jaylen Brown who respectively rank 10th and 14th in points per game.
Celtics at Nets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:43 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics -320 (bet $320 to win $100) | Nets +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- Against the spread (ATS): Celtics -7.5 (-102) | Nets +7.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 214.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Celtics at Nets key injuries
Celtics
- None
Nets
- C LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) out
- C Nic Claxton (hamstring) questionable
- F Kevin Durant (knee) out
- G James Harden (hamstring) questionable
- F Paul Millsap (personal) out
- G Kyrie Irving (ineligible) out
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Celtics at Nets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 110, Nets 102
Money line
PASS on the money line.
The -320 line on Boston as a road favorite is too much since we don’t know the status of former MVP G James Harden.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the CELTICS -7.5 (-102).
This becomes a full-unit play if Harden is ruled out, but I suspect Harden playing is priced into the action. This could continue to blossom to an 8-point spread if he’s ruled out, but it’s a line I’d still be comfortable in taking.
The main reason for that is that Brooklyn is down too many key players.
It’s not just Durant and Irving sidelined. The Nets will have just two of their top seven scorers if Harden is unable to suit up. The Nets have lost their last two games by 20 or more points, both against playoff-contending teams.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are loaded with size and speed.
Even if Harden does play, he’ll be hounded by defensive-minded G Marcus Smart. All things point to Boston coming out big on top here, especially if Harden opts out of this battle.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 214.5 (-107). This will likely be a fade by the public as well.
The Under has been the better play recently for both teams.
The Nets are 4-5-1 O/U in their last 10 games but just 1-3-1 O/U in their last five, and they haven’t topped 105 points in their last three outings. They’re 24-28-1 O/U on the season.
Boston’s defensive play has led the way as the Celtics have held four of their last five opponents to fewer than 100 points (the only one that went over the Hornets who lead the league in scoring). The Celtics are 2-8 O/U in their last 10 games and 22-32-1 O/U on the season.
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