Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, NBA Odds
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Edgar Chaput
Last weekend’s matchup went to the Celtics, 117-107. While Boston needed that win to halt a brief slide, the reality is this is more than just a revenge match for the Suns. Sitting in sixth place in the West, Phoenix has sights on a top-four finish, or at least avoiding the Play-In. The Suns most recently downed the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Monday, 117-111, whereas the Celtics completed their five-game road swing with a 123-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
Boston earns the benefit of favourite status, pegged at -5.5 on the NBA odds.
Suns vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds
The Suns won the last time they faced the Celtics in Boston. That was last February, 106-94. It was also a very different Suns lineup and with a different coach, so who knows if that counts for anything. All in all, Boston has captured three of the last four meetings, but the series is tied 5-5 over the last 10 encounters.
Although Eric Gordon and Josh Okogie are nursing injuries, head coach Frank Vogel can be assured that his group is going into battle with the trifecta the franchise thought it would have for most of the season: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Ailments have prevented these three from playing together consistently, but they’re available. Not only do the Suns need the win, but betters require a sign that Phoenix can handle spreads. They’re only 25-38-2 on the season and have failed to cover six of the last seven.
Boston is Boston. Number one seed in the East and the best team in the NBA record-wise. It hasn’t always translated to success against the spread, what with an unmemorable 33-29 tally. Their advantage is the parquet floor at TD Garden. More specifically their unbelievable 29-3 home record. It looks like what an NBA 2K player would achieve via a cheat code. Furthermore, they blow the opposition out at home. Jaylen Brown is listed as day-to-day.
Phoenix Suns
If the KD, Booker, and Beal Suns are going to string a successful run, the time is now. It isn’t entirely their fault the team has hit snags along the way, but with all three stars ready to go, this is a crucial road trip.
It got off to an excellent start Monday in Cleveland versus the Cavaliers, Granted, the latter were missing Donovan Mitchell, but a lot of teams are missing important players these days. For once, it wasn’t Phoenix’s problem. It didn’t start out well, with the Cavs racing out to a 41-32 first-quarter lead. Ultimately, that offensive outpouring from Cleveland was the exception, not the rule. Phoenix fought back and deftly handled the remainder of the match. Durant has his second consecutive brilliant game with 37 points off 14-for-26 shooting. Both Booker and Beal did their parts (27 and 24, respectively), with Booker pitching in with seven helpers. New fan favourite Bol Bol cooled off, not scoring a single point. Even so, Phoenix takes it 117-111.
Boston Celtics
There is reason for optimism in the Celtics’ fanbase just as there should be an itch to finally get the playoffs started. Unless they flatline miserably over the next month, they won’t cough up a 9.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Conversely, there are only so many wins like the one earned over Utah on Tuesday the team can pile up before it becomes predictable. Interestingly, the Jazz were more efficient than the Celtics from the perimeter, hitting 46.9 per cent of their shots to the Celtics’ 40.8. It kept the game somewhat close until the latter stages. But when the Celtics decide to do away with an opponent, they rain threes until the opposition’s spirit is broken. Jayson Tatum will get accolades for his 38-point performance, but Derrick White also was excellent, pitching in 24.
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