The Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets for a nationally televised matchup on Friday evening. Boston is 25-7 at home and 45-18 overall this season, entering at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn is 34-28 overall with an active four-game losing streak. Yuta Watanabe (back), Ben Simmons (knee), and Edmond Sumner (personal) are out for Brooklyn. Danilo Gallinari (knee) is out for Boston.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET in Boston. Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as the 11-point home favorite, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 227 in the latest Nets vs. Celtics odds. Before making any Celtics vs. Nets picks, 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-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 57-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Celtics 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 Celtics vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -11
- Nets vs. Celtics over/under: 227 points
- Nets vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -600, Nets +430
- BKN: The Nets are 16-16 against the spread in road games
- BOS: The Celtics are 18-14 against the spread in home games
- Nets vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nets can cover
The Nets have strong offensive metrics, with Mikal Bridges taking a substantial step forward as the centerpiece of the attack. Bridges is averaging 23.4 points per game since joining the Nets via mid-season trade, and he is shooting 51.9% from the field and 47.1% from 3-point range. The Nets are in the top 10 of the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 114.7 points per 100 possessions, and Brooklyn is in the top three of the league in shooting efficiency. Brooklyn is shooting 49.8% from the field, 38.7% from 3-point range, 56.8% inside the arc and 79.8% from the free throw line.
The Nets are in the top 10 of the league in assists (25.6 per game) and fast break points (15.7 per game), with Brooklyn also bringing clear strengths on defense. Brooklyn is a top-five team in opponent shooting, including 46.3% from the field, and the Nets are giving up only 23.1 assists per game. The Nets lead the league with 6.4 blocked shots per game, and Boston struggles on the offensive glass, securing only 25% of missed shots.
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has the best point differential in the NBA this season, out-scoring opponents by 5.8 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics are deep and talented, led by a potent duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is averaging 30.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and he produced 41 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a win over Cleveland on Wednesday. Brown adds 26.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Boston is No. 3 in the league in scoring 1.17 points per possession.
The Celtics have top-six marks in 3-pointers (15.9 per game), 3-point accuracy (37.9%), 2-point accuracy (56.3%), and free throw accuracy (82.4%). Boston also takes care of the ball at a high level, generating 1.96 assists for every turnover. The Celtics should also benefit from Brooklyn's defensive question marks. The Nets are second-worst in the NBA in 3-point defense (37.6%), and Brooklyn is No. 25 in the league in giving up 25.4 free throw attempts per game.
How to make Celtics vs. Nets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 240 points. The model also says one side hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Celtics? And which side hits well over 50% 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.
