The Celtics wrap up a two-game set in Charlotte after extending their current straight up win streak to six games with Saturday’s 122-106 rout of the Hornets. With Saturday’s defeat, the Hornets have now lost four straight and are also fallen to defeat in nine of their past 10 home dates.

The Celtics have held steady since opening as 8-point road favourites. The total has climbed to 232.5 since opening at 231.5, with the OVER garnering the support of 53% of sports bettors.

Celtics vs. Hornets NBA Betting Odds

Monday afternoon’s matchup at Spectrum Center marks the third of four scheduled meetings between these teams this season. With Saturday’s victory, the Celtics have now taken four straight from the Hornets, and have also won five of their past six dates in Charlotte. Boston has also covered in three straight head-to-head clashes while claiming victory by an average margin of 21.7 points in those contests. However, it has been the UNDER that has steadily paid out in totals betting, going 4-1 over their past five matchups.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics struggled to contain Charlotte shooters in Saturday’s contest, spotting the Hornets a 66-61 lead at the half. However, it was all Boston after recess, as the Celtics steadily pulled away in the third quarter on their way to a fourth straight road victory. Jayson Tatum led the team’s second-half resurgence with a 17-point performance in the third quarter, and finished the night with a game-high 33 points. The club’s leading scorer has now averaged 30 points per game over his past five outings, and has also recorded double-doubles in two of his past four road dates. Veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon thrived in a bigger role after Derrick White was forced to leave Saturday’s game with a neck injury, contributing a season-high 30 points. White is listed as probable for Monday’s contest. However, Jaylen Brown is expected to miss a third straight game as he nurses a groin injury.

Charlotte Hornets

With Saturday’s defeat, the Hornets find themselves on the verge of freefall. Now mired in a dismal 4-18 slide, Charlotte has fallen to defeat by double-digit margins in each of their past three outings, and five times during their current 1-9 run on home hardwood. The Hornets have played their way into a tight three-way race for the bottom of the NBA league standings with Detroit and Houston, and with just 11 wins to date, they offer solid value as a -159 bet to close out the campaign with UNDER 26.5 victories. Not surprisingly, Charlotte’s defence also ranks 28^th in the NBA after surrendering 126 points per game over their past three overall outings, and a lofty 124.3 points during their four-game home slide. Lamelo Ball has emerged as one of the few bright spots on this squad. The Hornets’ leading scorer has averaged 31.5 points over his past two outings, and has topped 30 points in two of his past three appearances against Boston. The Hornets look likely to once again be missing veteran Gordon Hayward on Monday. The former Celtics forward has been sidelined for two weeks by a hamstring injury, and is listed as doubtful.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Hornets?

• Regular Season

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.12
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.41
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.87
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.2
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.55
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.23

CHA

Points	LaMelo Ball 23.28
Assists	LaMelo Ball 8.44
Rebounds	Mark Williams 6.45
FG%	Mark Williams 64.2
Steals	Kelly Oubre Jr. 1.42
Blocks	P.J. Washington 1.11

• Regular Season

Hornets Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.12
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.41
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.87
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.2
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.55
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.23

CHA

Points	LaMelo Ball 23.28
Assists	LaMelo Ball 8.44
Rebounds	Mark Williams 6.45
FG%	Mark Williams 64.2
Steals	Kelly Oubre Jr. 1.42
Blocks	P.J. Washington 1.11

Injuries

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Sun Back - 24 / 03 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Tues Back - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Tues Hip - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Fri Illness - 17 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sat Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Wed Back - 06 / 03 / 23

Payton Pritchard (PG)

Out indefinitely Heel - 06 / 03 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Tues Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23

Mike Muscala (PF)

Ques Wed Knee - 28 / 02 / 23

Charlotte

Terry Rozier (PG)

Doub Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 23

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 23 / 03 / 23

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Fri Illness - 23 / 03 / 23

James Bouknight (SG)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 12 / 03 / 23

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Back - 12 / 03 / 23

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Sat Calf - 11 / 03 / 23

Mark Williams (C)

Prob Fri Thumb - 09 / 03 / 23

LaMelo Ball (PG)

out for season Ankle - 27 / 02 / 23

P.J. Washington (PF)

Ques Sun Foot - 25 / 02 / 23

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Fri Hand - 15 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Sun	Back - 24 / 03 / 23	1-3	2-2	+ -
Brogdon missed the previous match with left back pain, but it is predicted that he will lace up against the Spurs on Sunday.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Tues	Back - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Horford missed the last contest with low back stiffness, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Kings on Tuesday.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Tues	Hip - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart sat out the last game with a left hip contusion, but it is projected that he will be active Tuesday versus the Kings.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Fri	Illness - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart is dealing with an illness, and it remains to be seen whether he will suit up Friday against the Trail Blazers.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sat	Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Brogdon sat out the last game with right Achilles soreness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up Saturday against the Jazz.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Horford was held out of the previous contest due to lower-back stiffness, but he is expected to face the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Payton Pritchard (PG)	Out indefinitely	Heel - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Pritchard is dealing with a left heel injury, and there is no timetable for his return.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Tues	Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Williams III has been sidelined due to a left hamstring strain, but he is expected to return against the Kings on Tuesday.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Brogdon was held out of the previous contest due to right ankle soreness, and it is uncertain if he will face the Knicks on Sunday.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Ques Wed	Knee - 28 / 02 / 23	4-4	4-4	+ -
Muscala is nursing right knee tendinopathy, leaving his status for Wednesday's clash with the Cavaliers up in the air.

Charlotte

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Terry Rozier (PG)	Doub Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 23	1-2	1-2	+ -
Rozier missed the last game with right foot discomfort, and he is not expected to play on Sunday versus the Mavericks.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 23 / 03 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Oubre sat out the last contest with a left shoulder strain, and it is undetermined if he will play against the Mavericks on Sunday.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Fri	Illness - 23 / 03 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Smith left the last game due to illness, but he is expected to be available Friday versus the Mavericks.
James Bouknight (SG)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 12 / 03 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Bouknight is out of the lineup with a right ankle sprain, team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Back - 12 / 03 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Oubre Jr. was held out of the previous contest with back discomfort, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Sat	Calf - 11 / 03 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Rozier is dealing with a right calf contusion, but it is likely that he will dress for Saturday's battle with the Jazz.
Mark Williams (C)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 09 / 03 / 23	3-3	2-4	+ -
Williams has been out of action due to a right thumb sprain, but it is forecasted that he will return against the Mavericks on Friday.
LaMelo Ball (PG)	out for season	Ankle - 27 / 02 / 23	5-4	2-7	+ -
Ball is sidelined while recovering from surgery to address a fractured right ankle, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Ques Sun	Foot - 25 / 02 / 23	7-4	2-9	+ -
Washington has missed the last four games with a right foot sprain, and it is unknown if he will partake in Sunday's clash versus the Nets.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Fri	Hand - 15 / 02 / 23	8-4	3-9	+ -
Rozier was held out of the previous game due to a right hand sprain, but it is projected that he will take on the Timberwolves on Friday.