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The Boston Celtics face a difficult test when they travel to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Dec. 10. Boston is 13-3 overall and 7-9 on the road this season. Phoenix is 20-4 overall and 11-2 at home in 2021-22. Devin Booker (hamstring), Frank Kaminsky (knee) and Abdel Nader (knee) are out for the Suns, with Jaylen Brown (hamstring) ruled out for the Celtics.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Phoenix as a five-point home favorite for this 10 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 213.5 in the latest Celtics vs. Suns odds. Before locking in any Suns vs. Celtics picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 8 of the 2021-22 NBA season up almost $2,000 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It's also on a stunning 121-78 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Suns vs. Celtics and just locked in its NBA picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Suns:

  • Suns vs. Celtics spread: Suns -5
  • Suns vs. Celtics over-under: 213.5 points
  • Suns vs. Celtics money line: Suns -200, Celtics +170
  • Boston: The Celtics are 13-12-1 against the spread this season
  • Phoenix: The Suns are 12-12 against the spread in 2021-22

Why the Celtics can cover

Boston is led by Jayson Tatum, and the excellent two-way forward is putting up 25.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season. The Celtics are above-average in taking care of the ball on offense, committing a turnover on only 13.8 percent of possessions, and Boston is the No. 1 team in the NBA in free-throw accuracy at 82.2 percent. The Celtics take advantage of that strength with a top-six mark in free-throw frequency, and Phoenix is just No. 28 in blocked shots, which could provoke Boston into increased aggression. 

On defense, the Celtics are playing well, holding opponents to 1.07 points per possession and 44.2 percent shooting. Boston is a top-eight team in defensive rebound rate (73.9 percent) and second-chance points allowed (11.9 per game), with Phoenix near the bottom of the NBA in offensive rebounding. The Celtics also wall off the paint, allowing only 43.5 points in the paint per game, and Boston is No. 2 in the league in allowing opponents to produce only 21.7 assists per contest.

Why the Suns can cover

No team in the NBA is playing better than the Suns. Phoenix is 19-1 in the last 20 games, with the only defeat coming at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in a road tilt without Booker. Phoenix's offense, led in part by Chris Paul, garners the headlines, and the Suns are excellent on that end of the floor. However, Phoenix's defense is dominating the season, and that is a major reason for the team's success. The Suns are No. 2 in the NBA in defensive efficiency, allowing 104.1 points per 100 possessions. 

Phoenix is No. 1 in the league in 2-point shooting allowed at 49.2 percent, and the Suns are in the top five in field-goal percentage allowed at 43.6 percent. Opponents are generating only 22.9 assists per game against Phoenix, with the Suns ranking in the top 10 in turnovers created (15.9 per game), steals (9.0 per game), free-throw prevention and points allowed in the paint. Boston is a bottom-10 team in field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage, and the Suns should be able to slow the Celtics.

How to make Celtics vs. Suns picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 214 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Suns vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.