On Wednesday, the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics will meet for the first time during the 2022-23 NBA season. The Hawks host the matchup at State Farm Arena, and Atlanta is 9-5 overall and 5-2 at home this season. The Celtics are 11-3 overall, the best record in the NBA, and Boston arrives on a seven-game winning streak. Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) is out for the Hawks, while Robert Williams III (knee), Danilo Gallinari (knee), Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and Marcus Smart (ankle) are out for Boston.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Celtics as 1-point road favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 233 in the latest Celtics vs. Hawks odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Hawks vs. Celtics match-up, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 100-66 roll on all top-rated NBA picks that dates back to last season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Hawks and locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Hawks vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Hawks spread: Celtics -1
- Celtics vs. Hawks over/under: 233 points
- Celtics vs. Hawks money line: Celtics -115, Hawks -105
- BOS: The Celtics are 7-7 against the spread this season
- ATL: The Hawks are 7-7 against the spread this season
- Celtics vs. Hawks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston enters with the best overall profile in the NBA, including the best record in the league and an active seven-game winning streak. The Celtics are scoring 1.23 points per possession in the last seven games, boosting the team's league-leading offense to 1.188 points per possession this season. Boston is atop the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 26.2 assists and only 12.9 turnovers per game, and the Celtics have the best true shooting percentage (61.4%) in the league.
Boston is shooting 48.4% from the field, 57.3% from 2-point range and 38.2% from 3-point range, with top-tier marks in free throw creation (23.9 attempts per game) and free throw accuracy (84.2%). Atlanta is last in the NBA in free throw prevention on defense, and the Hawks are below-average in turnover creation. On defense, Boston is near the middle of the pack overall, but the Celtics are firmly in the top 10 of the NBA in blocked shots, assists allowed and 2-point shooting allowed.
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta has one of the best backcourts in the NBA. The Hawks are led by Trae Young, who is averaging 26.9 points and 9.3 assists per game after earning All-NBA honors last season. Dejounte Murray is averaging 21.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game since joining Atlanta over the summer, and the Hawks are in the top four of the NBA in turnovers (12.8 per game) and free throw accuracy (83.0%).
Atlanta has a 112.3 offensive rating this season, and Boston is dead-last in the NBA in turnover creation, forcing only 12.6 giveaways per game. The Celtics are also No. 20 in the league in 3-point defense, and Atlanta can lean on a stout defense. The Hawks are in the top eight of the NBA in defensive efficiency, 3-point percentage allowed and field goal percentage allowed, and Boston is third-worst in the league in offensive rebound rate.
How to make Hawks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 225 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
