The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are two quality teams in their respective conferences and theoretically, this could be a potential preview of an NBA Finals matchup. However, both teams have been a cut below the top tier teams and both have work to do if they’re to improve their playoff standing.

As the Celtics visit the Rockets to measure themselves up against one of the best in the West, which side is the best bet in this spot?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Celtics find themselves as a road dog in this spot but being an underdog hasn’t hampered them. They are 11-3 against the spread (ATS) this season when posted as a dog. They’re also 16-7 ATS against teams above .500 and are a healthy 15-9-1 ATS on the road.

The Rockets have had the upper hand in this series recently as they won both meetings last season by a margin of 12.5 points per game. They’re a healthy 18-8 at home but they’ve gone just 13-13 against the spread in those games. While the Rockets are just 19-25 ATS as a favorite this season, they are 9-3 ATS when favored by 5-7, so keep an eye on the line.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are on a roll right now as they’ll enter Tuesday’s game as winners of seven in a row and 10 of their last 11. Their last loss was on Jan. 26 at New Orleans. They’ve been solid on the road this season (15-10) but they’ve been even better of late, winning four of their last five away games.

Jayson Tatum has been leading the way for the Celtics as he’s scoring 26.7 points per game over his last seven contests while shooting 49.1 percent. Jaylen Brown has also been quite effective with 21.6 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting from the field. However, keep an eye on the injury news as Brown has a pair of minor ankle injuries and is questionable for Tuesday’s game.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets smallball lineup has been doing really well so far as they’re now 6-1 with this grouping that doesn’t include a center. Russell Westbrook has been the main catalyst for the team as this setup has really unleashed his skillset. Westbrook had 39 points in the team’s loss on Sunday, going 18-of-33 from the field. He had shot just 42.6 percent from the field in his first 31 games but he’s at 52.0 percent over his last seven contests. He’s also scored 30 or more in six of those seven games.

The challenge is that the Rockets are going to keep getting whipped on the glass and it will be interesting to see if they can survive that. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers last Thursday, going virtually even with them in rebounds. However, on Friday, the Phoenix Suns crushed the Rockets while outrebounding them by 22 and the Utah Jazz outrebounded them by 12 on Sunday and also earned the win.

Who Will Win Celtics vs. Rockets?

Injuries

Boston

Romeo Langford (SG)

out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20

Jaylen Brown (SG)

Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20

Vincent Poirier (C)

Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20

Tremont Waters (PG)

Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20

Javonte Green (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20

Jaylen Brown (SG)

Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20

Gordon Hayward (SF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20

Vincent Poirier (C)

Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20

Romeo Langford (SG)

Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20

Houston

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Sat Neck - 12 / 09 / 20

Robert Covington (SF)

PRob Thurs Head - 09 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

out for season Personal - 08 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Ques Sun Head - 05 / 09 / 20

Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 19 / 08 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Toe - 10 / 08 / 20

Bruno Caboclo (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20

DeMarre Carroll (SF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20

Austin Rivers (PG)

day to day Personal - 24 / 07 / 20

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Romeo Langford (SG)	out for season	Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
Jaylen Brown (SG)	Prob Tues	Groin - 12 / 09 / 20	3-4	5-2	+ -
Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat.
Vincent Poirier (C)	Prob Tues	Personal - 03 / 09 / 20	6-5	5-6	+ -
Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Thurs	Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20	6-5	5-6	+ -
Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone.
Tremont Waters (PG)	Prob Mon	Knee - 26 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors.
Javonte Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 20 / 08 / 20	9-6	6-9	+ -
Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat.
Jaylen Brown (SG)	Prob Wed	Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20	10-6	6-10	+ -
Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion.
Gordon Hayward (SF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20	10-7	6-11	+ -
Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Vincent Poirier (C)	Prob Wed	Groin - 16 / 08 / 20	10-7	6-11	+ -
Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Romeo Langford (SG)	Prob Mon	Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20	11-7	6-12	+ -
Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Sat	Neck - 12 / 09 / 20	0-1	0-1	+ -
Chandler is dealing with neck spasms and will sit out Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Lakers.
Robert Covington (SF)	PRob Thurs	Head - 09 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Covington is battling headache, but it is projected that he will line up in Game 4 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	out for season	Personal - 08 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
House Jr. will not be permitted to participate in the remainder of the postseason due to a violation of bubble protocol.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Ques Sun	Head - 05 / 09 / 20	1-4	1-4	+ -
House Jr. is tending to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 19 / 08 / 20	4-7	4-7	+ -
Mbah a Moute has a left knee effusion, and there is no timetable for return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Toe - 10 / 08 / 20	5-10	5-10	+ -
House Jr. is bothered by a left toe sprain, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Thunder.
Bruno Caboclo (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Caboclo has sat out the past three games due to a sprained right ankle, and he will not return Sunday against the Kings.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Gordon has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain, but is expected to make his return Wednesday against the Pacers.
DeMarre Carroll (SF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Carroll missed the last game with a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will play against the Bucks on Sunday.
Austin Rivers (PG)	day to day	Personal - 24 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rivers was away from the team due to a personal matter. He has returned and is likely to line up in Friday's matchup versus the Mavericks.