Overview
The Brooklyn Nets could be an interesting team to watch down the stretch once they get their lineup together. But as things sit right now — with the status of Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant being up in the air — the Nets are seeking a way to stay afloat until all of the reinforcements arrive.
Brooklyn has fallen into eighth place in the Eastern Conference after losing eight of their past ten games.
The Celtics, meanwhile, have been trending in the opposite direction. Boston has won nine of its last ten games and have moved into sixth place in the conference.
The Celtics want to find a way to recapture their magic and continue to build momentum as the NBA heads into its stretch run.
Last games records
Boston is 34-26. The Celtics lost 112-111 to Detroit at home. Brooklyn is 31-28. The Nets lost their last game to Washington 117-103 Feb. 17 at home.
Matchup Information:
Celtics at Nets Betting Analysis
Boston Celtics Betting Analysis
The Celtics have the league’s top field goal percentage defense, limiting their opponents to 42.9 percent shooting from the field. Boston also limits its opponents to 103.5 points per game, which is third-best in the league, and 33.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line, which ranks seventh. The Celtics have held seven of their past ten opponents to fewer than 100 points.
Small forward Jayson Tatum leads Boston in scoring, averaging 25.7 points per game, which ranks 11th in the league. He also contributes 8.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown provides a strong second-scoring option for the Celtics, who averages 23.7 points per game.
The Celtics’ offense, though, has struggled with efficiency. Boston ranks 21st in both field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, averaging 45.3 percent and 34.4 percent, respectively.
Brooklyn Nets Betting Analysis
The Nets have seen some relief already following the James Harden trade. Seth Curry, who came over as part of the deal, has contributed 18.3 points per game, while Andre Drummond, who was also included, is averaging 9.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Before the break and the trade, guard Patty Mills was carrying the Nets’ offense, averaging 13.4 points per game.
Mills is knocking down a career-high 3.2 3-point shots per game and making 41.9 percent of his attempts. Brooklyn’s defense allows 110.8 points per game, which ranks 19th in the league. Opponents are shooting 44.9 percent from the field against the Nets this season, which is the 10th-best mark in the NBA.
Team Updates
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams will both return to the lineup for the Boston Celtics after recovering from injuries. The Nets will be without guards Goran Dragic, Ben Simmons, and forward Kevin Durant.
- Boston is 30-29-1 against the spread.
- Brooklyn is 23-34-2 against the spread.
- The Celtics have seen 25 of their 60 games go under the total.
- The Nets have seen the total go 29-29-1 in their games this season.
- Boston is 14-11 against the spread following a loss.
- Brooklyn is 12-14-1 against the spread following a loss.
Celtics at Nets Preview
NBA stats show this game will be a difficult one to get a feel for. Following the all-star break, both teams should be re-energized. However, the Nets aren’t yet the team they will be in a few weeks.
With the return of Durant and other stars being uncertain, Brooklyn may have to brace itself for a few more weeks until everyone can come back.
Boston is hoping that the layoff hasn’t taken the steam out of its momentum. The Celtics are starting to play at a championship-caliber level some thought they were capable of at the start of the season. Catching Brooklyn while it is still recovering is fortuitous for Boston as well.
Celtics at Nets Betting Prediction
Top sportsbooks have the Celtics as a 7-point favorite. Boston is -275 on the moneyline, while Brooklyn is +225. The over/under is set at 213 points.
The Celtics are 14-15 on the road this season, but Boston will need to recognize this as an opportunity to pick up a key victory.
The Nets have struggled since being hit with a rash of injuries a month ago. Brooklyn’s 2-8 spiral has put it into a position where it has to fight to make the playoffs.
While the Nets may return to being one of the top teams in the East by season’s end, don’t expect it to happen tonight. The Celtics will cover this one with relative ease.
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