Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, NBA Odds
-
Edgar Chaput
This will be yet another Nets-Celtics tête-à-tête for which the New York state-based squad will be without Kevin Durant. It’s the second time in a row the Celtics won’t have to tussle with their opponents’ best asset.
As such, Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are pinned as -9 favourites on the NBA odds.
Nets vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds
If we include last year’s first-round playoff encounter, Brooklyn hasn’t won a single game against their Atlantic Division foes since Nov. 24, 2021. Nine contests have been played since then, with Boston earning the spoils each and every time. With or without Durant, Boston has had Brooklyn’s number.
Just as Jacque Vaughn has helped Brooklyn turn its fortunes around in the standings, so too has the team given betters more reasons to invest their trust in them. 26-24 ATS doesn’t look like much on paper, but the truth is the club has successfully managed five up the last six spreads they’ve gone up against. They’ve also played well, although didn’t always win, against tough opposition like the 76ers, the Lakers, and the Warriors.
Boston’s performances ATS have been abysmal lately. As shocking as it may sound for a team that leads an entire conference, the squad has failed to cover its past six spreads despite being favoured in five of them. Taking the Celtics on the money line is a much, much safer bet, even though it’s not as rewarding.
Brooklyn Nets
Although neither the Lakers nor the Knicks are considered to be some of the NBA’s toughest competition, it must be somewhat rewarding for Brooklyn, ever the little brother, to topple both in back-to-back contests. Saturday evening they handled the Knicks in a back-and-forth affair that ended 122-115.
Then, on Monday, a dominant final period paved the way to a 121-104 victory over the Lakers. It wasn’t as easy as the final score suggests. The Lakers won both the second and third quarters despite sitting out LeBron James and Anthony Davis. When push came to shove, Kyrie Irving (26 points) and forgotten man Patty Mills (21 points) took care of business, the latter coming off the bench. Moreover, a second Nets sub had a terrific night: Cam Thomas. The 2021 first-round pick tallied 21 points and a brilliant +25 ratio.
Boston Celtics
Boston hasn’t played since Saturday night against the Lakers. Given how that tilt turned out, one wonders what they must be thinking and how they’ve prepared for Brooklyn. We’ve already gone over the details of the late fourth-quarter controversy and drama but suffice it to say Boston got lucky.
Still, given that the side had struggled with a string of three straight defeats – and not scoring nearly as much as usual – they surely breathed a sigh of relief and accepted the win regardless. The 125-121 overtime victory saw Jaylen Brown lead the charge with 37 points off of 13-23 shooting and a stellar nine rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon continued his excellent season, coming off the bench to score 26 points off strong 8-15 shooting.
BK
BOS