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The Charlotte Hornets will head to the Northeast to take on the Boston Celtics in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup on Wednesday night. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Hornets-Celtics prediction and pick.
Boston has lost three straight games and currently sits in the sixth seed in the East. Charlotte has lost seven of its last 10 games and currently sits in the eighth seed in the standings. Separated by just 1.5 games, which team will have the edge on Wednesday?
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Hornets-Celtics odds.
NBA Odds: Hornets-Celtics Odds
Charlotte Hornets +7.5 (-110)
Over 214.5 Points (-110)
Under 214.5 Points (-110)
Why The Hornets Could Cover The Spread
It is amazing to think about the fact that Charlotte has had to withstand so many injuries this season. Despite the bad luck, the Hornets have remained relevant and control their playoff fate with little season left, and LaMelo Ball is returning soon (the hope is Gordon Hayward is back soon as well). Despite the recent losses, what's most important for this team is to find a groove, which will ultimately lead to wins. The Hornets are full of great stories this season and some emerging players have taken the spotlight in Charlotte.
Miles Bridges is really ascending lately as one of the top options in Charlotte. He has been electrifying with high-flying finishes around the rim and an improved outside game to match it. The Hornets have begun to move the ball with the best of them. In the win against Boston this past Sunday, Charlotte had 39 assists as a club, which resulted in four starters scoring over 20 points. The Hornets have all of the incentive in the world to take the Celtics' sixth seed given they have been horrible against the top two teams in the East this season.
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
The Celtics have been an absolute roller coaster of a team this season. They have underperformed time and time again after entering the season with such high expectations. The Celtics had won nine of 11 games at one point and seemed to be clicking before losing their last three games, including an awful loss on Tuesday to a Thunder team that entered on a 14-game losing streak. There was also a blowout loss to this same Hornets squad over the weekend.
Stars Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker missed the ugly loss to OKC. The hope is Tatum will be back in the lineup, but it looks like Walker will miss the game against his former team. The Celtics will have to continue to lean on Jaylen Brown for offense as he dropped 39 points in Tuesday's loss. Rookie guard Payton Pritchard has been playing well of late, dropping a season-high 28 points against OKC.
Final Hornets-Celtics Prediction & Pick
This is a game that could really go either way. With the playoffs around the corner and both teams looking to climb the standings, intensity will be as high as it has been all season long. My gut is leaning Celtics in this game as they've been a much better team at home this season and have had Charlotte's number in recent history in Boston. The Celtics are 2-1 ATS in the last three games head-to-head and have won by an average margin of over eight points. They are 5-0 ATS in their last five games against Charlotte at home and have an opportunity to get a sour taste out of their mouth against a depleted Hornets group.
FINAL PICK: Boston Celtics -7.5 (-110)
