The visitors will look to build off a convincing win over the Mavericks on Thursday and increase their lead atop the Eastern Conference. The Spurs aspire to put together a winning streak following Friday night’s vanquishing of the Detroit Pistons.

The NBA oddsmakers give the Celtics considerable chalk as -12.5 favourites, with the over-under established at 235.

Celtics vs. Spurs NBA Betting Odds

A peek into the records book to study recent tête-à-têtes offers a bit of the unexpected. The Celtics have been one of the most consistent organizations in the NBA for over a decade at this point. On the other hand, the glory days of the Spurs are far behind them. And yet San Antonio has a habit of taking Boston’s lunch money. Believe it or not but they swept the two-game season series last year and have claimed four of the last five meetings.

Joe Mazzulla should warn his ensemble to proceed with caution. His unit has a habit of taking lower-ranked squads far too lightly this season. Defeats to Orlando (twice), Oklahoma City, Chicago (twice), and Golden State are reasons for concern. Moreover, those failures in large part explain the team’s decent if unspectacular 21-17-1 record against the spread.

The opposite can practically be argued for Gregg Popovich’s squad. Despite languishing at 13-26 they’ve managed to put up an 18-20 tally ATS. Nothing to write home about, but it’s not what one would anticipate from a team fighting to avoid last place in an entire conference. Their four covers in five tries are also reasons for optimism, including twice against the Knicks in that span.

Boston Celtics

Whatever ailed Boston when they buckled against the Thunder on Tuesday, the team got it out of its system in time for Thursday night’s dance with the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas had won seven straight games, with Luka Doncic putting up sensational numbers.

It was a mixture of tight defence, very, very slick passing to find the open man and a Luka who seemed like a shadow of his usual self that told the story of the game. Boston held the Mavs to under 99 points for the first time in ten games. Nobody for the Celtics erupted for points (Jayson Tatum led the team with 29), but it was the brilliant, precise passes to find the best shot selection that dictated the terms. Tatum himself had himself a triple-double (29-10-14), and Boston’s 29 assists nearly doubled Dallas’ 15. It was also a rare case of Boston outrebounding the opposition (52-42). Make the final 124-95.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs won’t have much time to celebrate Friday night’s win over the visiting Detroit Pistons (in fact Saturday’s tip-off is earlier than Friday’s). Nevertheless, sometimes a quick turnaround following a victory is precisely what a squad needs to get more wind in its sails.

The 121-109 belies a contest that was much closer. It was only deep into the third quarter that Popovich’s men turned up the dial and built a ten-point lead. Otherwise, for much of the night, both sides were neck and neck. One major positive to take away from the tilt was that the Texan team managed the workload without its main shooting guard Devin Vassell. In his stead, four teammates notched points in the double-digits, with point guard Tre Jones having himself a great night (25 points), attack with both drives in the key and mid-range jumpers.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Spurs?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

SA

Points	Keldon Johnson 21.98
Assists	Tre Jones 6.59
Rebounds	Sandro Mamukelashvili 6.79
FG%	Charles Bassey 64.4
Steals	Tre Jones 1.31
Blocks	Charles Bassey 0.94

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

SA

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Spurs Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

SA

Points	Keldon Johnson 21.98
Assists	Tre Jones 6.59
Rebounds	Sandro Mamukelashvili 6.79
FG%	Charles Bassey 64.4
Steals	Tre Jones 1.31
Blocks	Charles Bassey 0.94

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

SA

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Mon Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Fri Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 05 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Wed Chest - 02 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sat Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 06 / 04 / 23

San Antonio

Romeo Langford (SG)

Prob Sun Thigh - 09 / 04 / 23

Zach Collins (PF)

Out Sun Finger - 08 / 04 / 23

Keldon Johnson (SF)

Out Sun Foot - 07 / 04 / 23

Romeo Langford (SG)

Prob Sat Groin - 07 / 04 / 23

Romeo Langford (SG)

Prob Thurs Groin - 05 / 04 / 23

Doug McDermott (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23

Devin Vassell (SG)

out for season Knee - 05 / 04 / 23

Devonte' Graham (PG)

Out Sun Groin - 05 / 04 / 23

Romeo Langford (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 04 / 04 / 23

Zach Collins (PF)

Prob Thurs Finger - 03 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Mon	Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23	2-1	0-3	+ -
Brogdon is nursing a partially torn tendon in his right forearm, but it is anticipated that he will be active versus the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Fri	Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23	3-4	3-4	+ -
Brogdon is managing a right forearm strain, but it is likely that he will take on the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Smart is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 05 / 05 / 23	6-6	6-6	+ -
Griffin is tending to lower-back pain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Wed	Chest - 02 / 05 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Smart is nursing a chest contusion, leaving his status against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals up in the air.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23	8-9	11-6	+ -
Smart is hindered by a tailbone contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sat	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Horford is nursing lower back stiffness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Hawks.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Williams is managing left knee soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status for the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Hawks.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
White has a left ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Friday's tilt with the Raptors.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
Brogdon is hampered by lower-back soreness, but it is likely that he will bounce back in time to face the Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.

San Antonio

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Romeo Langford (SG)	Prob Sun	Thigh - 09 / 04 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Langford is managing a left adductor injury, but it is anticipated that he will be in the lineup Sunday versus the Mavericks.
Zach Collins (PF)	Out Sun	Finger - 08 / 04 / 23	0-2	2-0	+ -
Collins missed the previous game with a finger laceration, and he will not face the Mavericks in Sunday's showdown.
Keldon Johnson (SF)	Out Sun	Foot - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	2-0	+ -
Johnson was absent from the last match due to a right foot sprain, and he will not lace up for Sunday's tilt with the Mavericks.
Romeo Langford (SG)	Prob Sat	Groin - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	2-0	+ -
Langford is dealing with an adductor issue, but it is forecasted that he will participate in Saturday's contest against the Timberwolves.
Romeo Langford (SG)	Prob Thurs	Groin - 05 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
Langford is managing a left adductor injury, but it is believed he will take the court against the Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Doug McDermott (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
McDermott has missed the last two contests with a right ankle sprain, and he will not be available against the Mavericks on Sunday.
Devin Vassell (SG)	out for season	Knee - 05 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
Vassell is idle due to left knee soreness, and he is expected to miss the rest of the 2022-23 season.
Devonte' Graham (PG)	Out Sun	Groin - 05 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
Graham has been held out of the previous two games with a left adductor strain, and he will not lace up Sunday against the Mavericks.
Romeo Langford (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 04 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
Langford will not dress for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns as he will be given a day of rest.
Zach Collins (PF)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 03 / 04 / 23	1-3	3-1	+ -
Collins sat out the last contest with a left fifth finger laceration, but it is expected that he will suit up Thursday against the Trail Blazers.