The Charlotte Hornets (15-41) visit the Boston Celtics (39-16) on Friday. Tip from TD Garden is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Hornets vs. Celtics odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Charlotte lost to the Wizards 118-104 on Wednesday, failing to cover as 3.5-point road underdogs. It has now dropped 5 in a row and is only 3-7 over its last 10 games. In that span, the Hornets are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) to fall to 23-30-3 ATS on the season.
The Hornets were active on Wednesday before the trade deadline, shipping C Mason Plumlee to the Clippers in exchange for G Reggie Jackson and shipping F Jalen McDaniels to Philadelphia in a 4-way deal that returned draft picks.
Boston defeated Philadelphia 106-99 on Wednesday and covered as 2.5-point home favorites. Boston has won back-to-back games and is 4-1 in its last 5 games and 3-2 ATS. The Celtics are only 3-7 ATS in their previous 7 games and are 28-26-1 ATS this season.
The Celtics only made a single move before the trade deadline trading F Justin Jackson and picks to the Thunder for C Mike Muscala.
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Hornets at Celtics odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hornets +360 (bet $100 to win $360) | Celtics -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Hornets +9.5 (-105) | Celtics -9.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Hornets at Celtics key injuries
Hornets
- F Cody Martin (knee) out
- F Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) out
Celtics
- G Jaylen Brown (face) out
- C Al Horford (knee) probable
- G Marcus Smart (ankle) out
- F Jayson Tatum (illness) questionable
- C Robert Williams III (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Hornets at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 113, Hornets 106
Moneyline
PASS.
The moneyline is not playable in this game with a risk of 4 times the return.
Against the spread
LEAN HORNETS +9.5 (-105).
While the Celtics are clearly the better team — they have beaten the Hornets 3 times this season by 35, 16 and 12 points — they are beaten and bruised entering Friday’s game. With Brown and Smart both out and Tatum questionable, they will be missing key features to their offense and defense.
They also will be playing on just 1 day’s rest where they are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing under those conditions. The Celtics are also 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400.
The Celtics
Over/Under
BET UNDER 225.5 (-108).
The Under is 5-0 in the Hornets’ last 5 overall, 6-0 in their last 6 after allowing 100 or more points in the previous game, and 4-0 in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
For Boston, the Under is 3-0 in its last 3 overall, 4-0 in its last 4 home games against a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400, and 5-1 in its last 6 games following an outright win.
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