Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics betting tips and predictions for Thursday’s NBA game on TNT. The Celtics are hoping to win their 5th game in a row as they travel to Brooklyn to take on the shorthanded Nets. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Brooklyn Nets
I think we were all dealt a major blow with the knee injury to Kevin Durant which will keep him out for at least a month. The Nets were finally starting to play some of their best basketball over the past couple of season and now they have to deal with the absence of their superstar forward. At 27-13 SU, they are just 2 games off of 1st place in the East, so it will be interesting to see how much they fall off without their best player.
Tonight’s game will be a tough one, against the East leaders Celtics who have already won the 1st meeting of the season 103-92, played in early December. Both teams were at full strength in that game, the Celtics were just too much. Brooklyn has managed just 2 wins over the last 10 meetings.
Boston Celtics
This is a really good spot for the Celtics to be in, they are coming off their 4th straight win, an 11-point triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans at home last night. Jaylen Brown erupted for 41 points, while Jayson Tatum added 31 of his own and 10 rebounds. The fact that the Pelicans were without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram also made the Cs life easier, Brown was an impressive 15-for-21 from the field. He also had a big game in the 1st meeting of the season vs Brooklyn when he scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, he and Tatum are slowly becoming the best duo in the entire NBA. Boston comes into Brooklyn riding an 8-game win streak in head-to-head meetings, they’ve also covered the spread in 5 straight at Barclays Center.
Losing a 30-point scorer is always tough on a team, this will be the 1st game post-KD injury for the Nets so I’m not exactly sure what to expect. The Cs will be all over Kyrie Irving, if they manage to stop him, I’m afraid it could be a long night for the men in black. Take Boston to cover.
Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Predictions & Odds
Just 195 points were scored in early December when these two teams played each other in Brooklyn. Both defenses have improved since, especially the Nets who are now tied with Miami for the 5th best defensive efficiency numbers allowing just 108.4 points per 100 possessions. The under has cashed in 10 of 18 home games for them, I have a sneaky feeling they’ll struggle a bit without their main scoring option tonight.
Boston is also trending towards the under in road games this season at 6-13-1 on the O/U. Their last 11 of 15 games away from home have all cashed on the over, so if you’ve been consistently backing that bet you’ve made a lot of money. Tonight’s projected total is at a very generous 227 points, I don’t think there’s enough offensive firepower to go over that number. Take the under.
