The Washington Wizards (24-47) will take on the Boston Celtics (48-23) in a matinee matchup Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m. ET at AdventHealth Arena in Reunion, Fla. We analyze the Wizards-Celtics NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Wizards vs. Celtics: Key injuries
Wizards
- SG Bradley Beal (shoulder) out
- SG Garrison Matthews (not with team) out
Celtics
- SG Jaylen Brown (rest) out
- SF Gordon Hayward (rest) out
- PG Marcus Smart (rest) out
- SF Jayson Tatum (ankle) out
- PG Kemba Walker (knee) out
- PF Daniel Theis (foot) out
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Wizards vs. Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Celtics 110, Wizards 105
Moneyline (ML)
The CELTICS (-125) are modest favorites in this meaningless matchup. With the Eastern Conference first-round series already set, Boston is coasting into the playoffs and giving its top players some rest before the postseason begins.
Washington (+105) will also be shorthanded with Beal out for the season, but the Wizards won’t be resting players like Boston. Even with the Celtics starting their backups, they’re the better team in this game.
The Wizards have lost seven games in a row, covering the spread only once in that span. The Celtics have won four in a row, three of which were by at least 15 points.
Go with the CELTICS (-125) to win outright, even without their top players suiting up.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
BetMGM has the Celtics as 1.5-point favorites over the Wizards (+1.5, -110). This is a tough game to call because Boston is resting its stars, making it difficult to predict how the Celtics’ reserves will perform against Washington.
Boston is 3-1 ATS in its last four games and 40-26-5 all season in that department. Washington has covered only once in its last seven games, limping into the close of the season.
Take the CELTICS -1.5 (-110) to cover the spread and cap off the year with a win by at least 2 points.
Over/Under (O/U)
There was no Over/Under line posted at the time of publishing, but I’d lean toward the Under in this one. The Celtics are resting their top players and Washington has struggled offensively in recent weeks.
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