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The Boston Celtics will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in an inter-conference matchup on Monday. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a Celtics-Timberwolves prediction and pick.
The Celtics and Timberwolves will play on Monday as each side is missing key players due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Jayson Tatum is the latest Celtic to be added to the protocols. Minnesota is still without a slew of players including stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. The NBA as a whole continues to be impacted by Covid, as teams across the league battle the widespread absences of players. The Celtics come into this one as favorites over the Timberwolves, who are missing nearly their entire regular rotation.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Celtics-Timberwolves odds for this Monday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: Celtics-Timberwolves Odds
Boston Celtics -5.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5 (-110)
Over 214.5 (-110)
Under 214.5 (-110)
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Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
Boston is now without several key contributors in this one. Jayson Tatum, Dennis Schroder, Aaron Nesmith, Josh Richardson, Enes Freedom, CJ Miles, Bruno Fernando and Justin Jackson are listed as out due to health and safety protocols. Grant Williams is listed as questionable to be able to clear protocols and return to play. The Celtics are 4-6 in their last ten games as they have battled the outbreak.
Tatum was added to protocols on Monday morning so Boston will be without their best player due to protocols for the first time in this one. The Celtics are still not as bad off as the Wolves are night now, so they come in as favorites. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart will look to carry the load on Monday for Boston.
Boston is 5-4-1 vs. the spread in their last ten games, and 17-14-2 overall vs. the number this season. The Celtics are 5-1 vs. the spread as away favorites, and 11-8 as favorites overall vs. the spread. Boston has covered in five of their last six.
Why The Timberwolves Could Cover The Spread
The Timberwolves are without an enter team full of players in this one, including the following: Patrick Beverly, Anthony Edwards, Josh Okogie, Taurean Prince, Naz Reid, D'Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jarred Vanderbilt. All eight of these guys are rotation players when healthy, with most of them even starting at some point. Obviously Edwards, Towns and Russell are the biggest absences but the others are crucial as well. This is why Minnesota is still a big underdog at home despite all of Boston's roster issues.
Minnesota is 3-4 vs. the spread as home underdogs this season and 10-9 when they are underdogs overall. The Timberwolves have covered in five of their last six games as well, and had won four in a row before their recent two-game losing streak as the they have been hit with a Covid outbreak.
Final Celtics-Timberwolves Prediction and Pick
This is a really tough call as both teams are missing so much. The Celtics should have Smart, Brown, Al Horford and maybe Grant Williams too. Take Boston to cover and win here if you have to make a pick, but there are probably better games to play on the slate this Monday. All of the absences on each side make any kind of projection system useless and things a bit muddy in general when looking at this game.
Final Celtics-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick: Celtics -5.5 (-110)
