The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks meet for the third time this season in a showdown in State Farm Arena . It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Celtics-Hawks prediction and pick.
The Celtics hold a record of 15-16 both overall and against the spread. Boston is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Hawks stand at 13-18 overall and are 15-16 against the spread. In Atlanta’s most recent game, they lost on a game-winning dunk to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Celtics-Hawks odds.
NBA Odds: Celtics-Hawks Odds
Boston Celtics -2 (-110)
Atlanta Hawks +2 (-110)
Over 224 Points (-110)
Under 224 Points (-110)
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
The biggest difference between these two teams is their performance on the defensive end. While the Celtics have been a solid defensive team of late, the Hawks have struggled to keep their opponents off the board.
Boston has allowed the seventh least points in the league and barring OT games, they've held their opponent to below their scoring average in eight of their last ten matchups. The Hawks have failed to accomplish that feat in four of their last five.
The Celtics have done great work along the perimeter this season, holding opponents to the fourth-least three-pointers made and the seventh-lowest percentage from beyond the arc.
With defenders like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown patrolling the arc, opponents have found it difficult to get a good amount of clean looks from the three-point line.
The Celtics will be missing Kemba Walker on Wednesday, which shouldn't affect them on the defensive end. In fact, they might see a bit of a defensive upgrade with Payton Pritchard taking a chunk of Kemba's minutes.
Additionally, the Celtics could dodge a bullet tonight if John Collins is declared out. Unfortunately, the star big man suffered a hard hit last night and is undergoing concussion protocol.
The Celtics have struggled to contain stretch fours all season (Ingram and Siakam have given them problems recently) so Collins absence would be a huge relief for the smaller Boston frontcourt.
Offensively, with DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish out, Tatum and Brown should be primed for field days. One, if not both, should top 25 points tonight.
Why The Hawks Could Cover The Spread
After a heartbreaking loss to one of the worst teams in the league, the Hawks badly need a bounceback win here.
All eyes in Atlanta will be on Trae Young to lead the way.
After three straight electric performances (40 PTS, 31 PTS, 35 PTS), Young had an off night against Cleveland and shot just 9-27 from the field.
The Hawks will need their star guard badly tonight, and I expect him to rebound nicely. In both games this season against the Celtics, Young has been great, averaging 35.5 points on 67% from the field. If he can continue this trend against a tough C's defense, it gives the Hawks a good chance of pulling the upset here.
Defensively, Atlanta is in a tough position here. They might get some help from the fatigue factor, as the Celtics are playing their third game in four days.
The goal for the Hawks should be to make the two Boston Jay's face different bodies and double teams all night. Kevin Huerter, Onyeka Onkongwu, and Danilo Gallinari will have a lot on their shoulders tonight on the defensive end.
If they can force Tatum into mid-range jumpers over threes and keep him off the free-throw line, I like the Hawks' chances of keeping this close.
Final Celtics-Hawks Prediction & Pick
The regular-season series between these two teams is deadlocked at 1-1, but the Celtics win was more convincing. Body language-wise, the Celtics looked more like a team that was ready to fight last night. I can't back a team that just melted down to one of the worst teams in the league and could potentially be missing their second-best player. I'll take the Celtics to pull away tonight to fight off the loudening whispers that they are fake contenders.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: BOS 117, ATL 106 (BOS -2)
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