The Brooklyn Nets (27-13 SU, 21-19 ATS) welcome the Boston Celtics (30-12, 22-19-1) to Barclays Center on Thursday as the top two teams in the Eastern Conference collide. Find out which of these streaking clubs has the edge in our Celtics vs Nets prediction.
- Date/Time: January 12, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Barclays Center
- TV Coverage: TNT, NBCS
- Opening Celtics vs Nets Odds: Celtics -4 | O/U 227
- Celtics vs Nets Betting Matchup Report
Celtics vs Nets Opening Odds
The Celtics opened as the 4-point favorite on the road with the total set at 227 points. The OVER is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between the two teams while Boston has won eight straight games vs Brooklyn, giving the visitors a clear advantage in our Celtics vs Nets prediction.
Get the best Celtics vs Nets odds and lines for your favorite picks of the night.
Brown, Tatum Lead Celtics To Fourth Straight Win
The Celtics earned their fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday, topping the New Orleans Pelicans 125-114. Jaylen Brown had a big night with 41 points and 12 rebounds while Jayson Tatum added a double-double of his own with 31 points and 10 boards. CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 38 points in the loss.
After a bit of a slog through most of December, the Celtics have bounced back with eight wins in their last 10 games. The offense has surged over that span, averaging 120.7 points per contest, with either Brown or Tatum leading the team in scoring in each game.
Nets Lose Durant In Win Over Heat
The Nets picked up another win on Sunday, edging out the Miami Heat 102-101. Kyrie Irving led Brooklyn with 29 points while Kevin Durant scored 17 before leading the game with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler (26 points) and Tyler Herro (24 points) were Miami’s top performers in a losing effort.
While Brooklyn has been on fire of late, winning 18 of its last 20 games, the Nets will face some adversity now as Durant reportedly sprained his MCL and is expected to be sidelined for a month. The power forward is averaging just under 30 points per game this season, though Brooklyn’s offense still sits 14th in the league at 114.6 points per game. We’ll see how the Nets respond moving forward without their top dog.
Celtics: Keys To Victory
Boston should have the clear advantage in this matchup with Durant out while Tatum and Brown have been chugging along, combining for about 55 points per game in January. Malcolm Brogdon has also been a big help off the bench, averaging 14 points in just 24 minutes. If Boston’s top duo continues scoring and Brogdon chips in, the Celtics could run away with this one.
Nets: Keys To Victory
The Nets will need to band together and step up as a team to make up for the absence of Durant. They’ve got another capable scorer in Irving, who’s averaging 26 points per game this year, but it drops off drastically from there as Nic Claxton sits third at just 11.9. That said, if Brooklyn is going to stay in this game, they’ll need a heroic defensive effort – the team ranks fifth in points against per game (110.6) so it’s certainly possible.
NBA Computer Pick: Celtics -3
Check out more of our signature NBA and college basketball computer picks.
- Boston is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
- The UNDER is 11-4 in Boston’s last 15 road games.
- The UNDER is 5-1 in Brooklyn’s last 6 games.
