Celtics vs. Warriors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Charlie Grant
It’s getting increasingly harder to imagine that Tuesday’s encounter between the visiting Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors was considered by many to be a potential NBA Finals preview coming into the season.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Warriors are hefty favorites for the rematch of their Jan. 26 encounter, in which Golden State escaped with a 115-111 victory. But even with Boston playing some of its worst basketball of the season, bettors might be a bit gun-shy given that the hosts are a dreadful 1-9 ATS in their previous 10 games while going 0-6 ATS in their past six following a straight-up win. The Celtics have also covered in each of their previous five visits to Oakland.
The total for this one sits at 229.5 – and both sides are rocking solid under trends coming into this one. The Celtics have put together a four-game under streak and are a sizzling 8-1 to the under in their previous nine games away from TD Garden, while Golden State has gone below the number six straight times against teams above .500. The Warriors and Celtics have also played to the under in each of their previous six head-to-head encounters.
Boston Celtics
Warriors star Kevin Durant doesn’t think the Celtics have anything to worry about, suggesting the team will be just fine once the postseason gets started. But with Kyrie Irving already grumbling and Boston facing one of the most grueling schedules of any team with conference championship aspirations, bettors should think twice about placing a futures bet here. The Celtics enter Tuesday at +333 to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors, by contrast, are floating along out West, listed at a whopping -357 to reach the Finals for a fifth consecutive year. But with a dismal 7-18-1 ATS mark in its last 26 home games, it’s clear that Golden State doesn’t plan on exerting more energy than it has to during the regular season. Bettors and fans should expect to see the team rest its star players down the stretch, which should make the Warriors an even worse cover option.
