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Barclays Center showcases a high-profile Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday evening. The Brooklyn Nets welcome the Boston Celtics to town, with Brooklyn entering at 27-13 overall and 13-5 at home. Boston is 13-7 on the road and facing the second night of a back-to-back. Kevin Durant (knee) is out for the Nets, while Boston's injury report consists of Al Horford (out; back) and Jaylen Brown (questionable; adductor).

Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as a 1.5-point favorite, 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 226 in the latest Celtics vs. Nets odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Nets vs. Celtics match-up, be sure to check out 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-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 43-19 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Nets and just 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 Nets vs. Celtics:

  • Celtics vs. Nets spread: Celtics -1.5
  • Celtics vs. Nets over/under: 226 points
  • Celtics vs. Nets money line: Celtics -130, Nets +110
  • Boston: The Celtics are 5-1 against the spread with no rest
  • Brooklyn: The Nets are 8-9-1 against the spread in home games
  • Celtics vs. Nets picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Celtics can cover

Boston is very strong on both ends of the floor. The Celtics rank in the top three of the NBA in offensive efficiency, and Boston commits a turnover on fewer than 14% of possessions. The Celtics are also in the top 10 in 2-point accuracy and 3-point accuracy, with Boston generating more than 26 assists per game.

On defense, Boston yields only 1.11 points per possession, and the Celtics lead the league in free throw prevention and assists allowed. The Celtics are blocking more than five shots per game, and Boston is in the top eight of the league in fast break points allowed and defensive rebound rate, securing more than 73% of available defensive rebounds. Brooklyn is also No. 29 in free throw attempts, producing only 20.5 shots per game at the charity stripe.

Why the Nets can cover

Brooklyn is rightfully known for its offense, but the Nets are defending at a high level and have home-court advantage and a rest edge in this game. The Nets are allowing only 111.5 points per 100 possessions, a top-10 mark in the NBA, and Brooklyn leads the league in blocked shots (7.0 per game) and 2-point shooting allowed (50.3%). The Nets are in the top four in field goal percentage allowed (45.2%) and assists allowed (22.8 per game), with Brooklyn landing in the top 10 in allowing only 48.0 points in the paint per game.

On offense, the Nets are scoring nearly 1.16 points per possession and leading the NBA in field goal percentage and true shooting percentage. Brooklyn is also facing a Boston defense that is in the bottom five of the league in turnover creation and steals per game.

How to make Celtics vs. Nets picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, with 13 players projected to score at least eight points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Nets vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Celtics vs. Nets spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.