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The Brooklyn Nets will visit Boston to take on the scorching Celtics in a 1 P.M. E.T. tip on Sunday. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes our Nets-Celtics prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
Kevin Durant finally came back to the court after a 21-game absence for the Nets last Friday. However, the East-leading Miami Heat spoiled the party for KD's return by taking the 113-107 win on Brooklyn's home floor. Durant scored 31 points in his first game back, while Bruce Brown added 21 points. However, their efforts were not enough to even slow down a Jimmy Butler-less Heat team.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have been one of the league's top teams since the calendar flipped to 2022. They defeated a similarly surging Memphis Grizzlies team, 120-107 in their latest contest. Without his partner Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum erupted for 37 points on a 14-of-25 shooting. Al Horford also stepped up and turned back the clock with a 21-point, 15-rebound performance. With that, let's peep into this matchup and see how this game could turn out.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Nets–Celtics NBA odds for this Sunday afternoon NBA matchup.
NBA odds: Nets–Celtics Odds
Brooklyn Nets: +4.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics: -4.5 (-110)
Over: 226.5 (-110)
Under: 226.5 (-110)
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Why the Nets could cover the spread
Kevin Durant is back. And since they're on the road, Kyrie Irving will also join the fray. We've only seen this tandem four times this season and they are 18-12 since last season when they play together, per StatMuse. It is quite alarming that we're going to see them just for the 31st time together through their two years as teammates.
Nonetheless, whenever you have a duo like Durant and Irving on the floor, there is always a chance for fireworks. This Brooklyn offense can also explode with the amount of firepower on this roster. They have shooters like Patty Mills and Seth Curry, who is listed as probable with left ankle soreness. They also added a veteran back-court playmaker in Goran Dragic, who can still score in bunches in a bench role. Andre Drummond has helped shore up the frontcourt with his rebounding and inside presence. In addition, the last time Brooklyn played on the road with Irving on the floor, they valiantly took down the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks with a spectacular 38-point performance from Uncle Drew.
The defense has been Brooklyn's Achilles heel this season and is one of the reasons why they have been underwhelmed on the spread. They only have a 24-36 ATS record. They've also dealt with a ton of injuries and have basically played without much continuity throughout the entire season. That will continue to be the case on Sunday versus Boston. Ben Simmons is still out as he is still going through recondition and some back issues. Meanwhile, Joe Harris had a second surgery on his ankle and is done for the season.
Why the Celtics could cover the spread
Boston has been the league's best defensive team since the flip of the calendar. While the duo of Durant and Irving is challenging to contain for any opposing squad, they certainly have the pieces to make life tough for Brooklyn. They will need to get it done on that end of the floor if they are going to come away with the win and do so by at least four points.
The Celtics have listed Jaylen Brown as questionable due to an ankle sprain. Brown missed Boston's last outing versus the Grizzlies, but they didn't seem to miss him too much as guys like Al Horford and Marcus Smart stepped up in his absence. Unfortunately, Aaron Nesmith, who was thrusted into the starting lineup to fill in for Brown, also injured his ankle two minutes into the first quarter against Memphis. Nesmith has officially been ruled out for Sunday.
In case Brown isn't able to go, Ime Udoka could go with Derrick White to start the game. He also utilized a unit of Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Al Horford, and Robert Williams. Udoka found a lot of success with that aforementioned supersized lineup and could give it a look. Regardless of how the first-year head coach strategizes, the Celtics are locked in defensively. Their chemistry and communication on that end of the floor has been so connected and that is a huge reason for their success as of late. So if they are going to cover the spread, they will need to make it happen on the defensive side of the floor.
Final Nets–Celtics Prediction & Pick
It will probably be safer to go with Boston given just how locked in and connected they are on defense. Brooklyn's superstar tandem of Durant and Irving is obviously a lot to handle, but based on what we've seen in 2022, the odds of the Celtics winning this game defensively against a team that hasn't played much together is much better.
Final Nets–Celtics Prediction & Pick: Celtics -4.5 (-110)
