The Charlotte Hornets (24-20) visit TD Garden Wednesday to take on the Boston Celtics (23-22). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Hornets vs. Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference, winning 7 of their last 10.
However, they’ll take to the road where they’ve been far worse, just 12-14 away from Spectrum Center. Charlotte is 13-13 against the spread (ATS) on the road and 27-17 ATS overall. The Hornets rank third in offensive rating.
As for the Celtics, they’re coming off a 104-92 MLK Day home win over the Pelicans. Boston is 22-22-1 ATS, including a significantly better home ATS record of 15-8. The Celtics have the 22nd-ranked offense and the 6th-ranked defense.
Hornets at Celtics 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 2:35 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Hornets +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Celtics -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Hornets +3.5 (-115) | Celtics -3.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 219.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Hornets at Celtics key injuries
Hornets
- SG Kelly Oubre Jr. (health and safety protocols) questionable
Celtics
- PG Marcus Smart (return to competition reconditioning) out
Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Hornets at Celtics odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 108, Celtics 106
Money line
SPRINKLE on the HORNETS (+125).
The Hornets have been one of the most sporadic teams in the league this season. They lost to the last-place Orlando Magic 116-109 Friday, yet took down the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers for their last two victories.
The Hornets like to get out and run behind their young backcourt. However, the Celtics rank 25th in pace, so the style this game is played will dictate the outcome.
Against teams like Philadelphia, one of the slowest in the league, Charlotte still put up 109 points in a road victory. Charlotte has won two straight road games and is at almost full strength.
The Hornets are also one of the few teams with the size and athleticism in SF Miles Bridges and SF Gordon Hayward to keep pace with SF Jayson Tatum and SG Jaylen Brown of the Celtics.
With a far better backcourt, I’ll take the high-pace Hornets.
Against the spread
BET on HORNETS +3.5 (-115).
The Hornets are 4-6 in games decided by one score, tied for the second most one-score games in the Eastern Conference. Similarly, the Celtics are 4-2 in overtime games.
Both teams have managed to keep games close this season, and I expect nothing less in this battle.
Over/Under
LEAN to the UNDER 219.5 (-112). The Hornets play at an ultra-fast pace, and the Celtics are the opposite.
As we saw in the Hornets’ recent wins against the Knicks and 76ers, Charlotte played at a slower pace with Under tickets cashing in both. Charlotte is 23-20-1 O/U this season, while Boston is 20-24-1 O/U.
Given that both teams rank in the top 20 in turnover rate and outside the top 10 in true-shooting percentage, I’ll side with fewer points and fewer possessions in this one.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and, soon, IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]