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The Boston Celtics travel to New York tonight to face off against the Brooklyn Nets for the third time this season. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Celtics-Nets prediction and pick.
The Celtics currently hold a record of 32-27 overall and 30-29 against the spread. Boston is coming off an impressive win over the Phoenix Suns.
The Nets stand at 39-20 and 29-20 against the spread. Brooklyn is coming off a loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Celtics-Nets odds.
NBA Odds: Celtics vs. Nets Odds
Boston Celtics +5 (-105)
Brooklyn Nets -5 (-115)
Over 226 Points (-110)
Under 226 Points (-110)
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
Boston has been fairly good at covering spreads as an underdog all year. They stand at 12-9 ATS when marked as the weaker team, compared to 18-19 when favorited.
As underdogs of five or more points, the Celtics are 5-2 against the spread. They have made it a habit of keeping it close with the top teams in the league.
Additionally, the C's are red hot, winning seven of their last eight matchups.
The Celtics have been racking up the wins thanks to some outstanding defense. Boston absolutely clamped the Suns on Thursday night, holding them to their second-lowest point total of the season.
Brad Stevens and company have ratcheted up the effort on D in this closing stretch. The Celtics have improved nearly all of their defensive statistics, and they now allow the eight least points in the league. They are also top 10 in both steals and blocks, thanks to their roster of lengthy wings causing havoc on the perimeter and in the paint.
Defense will be the focus for the C's, but they'll need enough offense to keep up with a high-powered Nets scoring machine.
With Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker both absent, the scoring will fall almost entirely on Jayson Tatum's shoulders.
Thankfully for Celtics bettors, Tatum has performed well against Brooklyn. In the previous two games, Tatum is averaging 25.5 points on 50% shooting.
The C's should also get a boost with the return of sharpshooter Evan Fournier, a much-needed bonus against a team that likes to let threes fly.
If the Celtics defense can keep this game in the 110-115 point area, the Celtics have a great shot at covering.
Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread
Nets fans are hopeful that today is the day Kevin Durant returns to the lineup.
KD has missed Brooklyn's last two matchups after a scare against the Heat in which Durant exited the game with a left thigh contusion.
The Brooklyn star is currently listed as questionable to play, and it is possible the Nets decide to play it safe and let Durant rest up for an extra game.
Even without Durant, the Nets have been consistent in one aspect: putting points on the scoreboard.
Brooklyn owns the second highest-scoring offense in the league, averaging 118.8 points per contest. The Nets are particularly effective at shooting the deep ball, averaging just under 39% from three as a team.
This could be deadly for Boston, who's been hurt from long-range all year. Boston has the thirteenth worst three-point defense in the league, allowing opponents to hit 37% of their treys. Missing Jaylen Brown, one of their better perimeter defenders, can only make this weakness more obvious.
The Nets give up points, but their goal tonight will be to blitz Boston off the floor. The Celtics are on the second night of a back to back, and missing two key players. This is a perfect spot for the Nets to bring out the big guns early and run up the numbers in the first half to keep Boston down.
Final Celtics-Nets Prediction & Pick
Even if Durant doesn't play here, take the Nets odds against a Boston team that will be almost entirely reliant on Tatum for points tonight. The line right now is still in Brooklyn's favor with the Nets as five point favorites without Durant, and if KD plays, it'll only go up. Jump on the Nets -5 right now, and you'll be even more confident if the Nets unleash Durant.
FINAL CELTICS-NETS PREDICTION & PICK: BKN 119, BOS 108 (BROOKLYN NETS -5)
