Boston Celtics at Phoenix Suns Betting Preview

Before you prepare to watch the Super Bowl, you can get your NBA fix on Sunday with a matchup of East versus West as the Boston Celtics (12-9) take on the Phoenix Suns (12-9). The Suns will host this one from the PHX Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 2:00 pm ET.
Currently fourth place in the East and three games behind the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics are trying to find some consistency in their game. They are 3-3 over their last six, but they are coming off of a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. In the win, Jayson Tatum led the team with 34 points and seven rebounds.
The Suns currently rank sixth in the Western Conference, but they are tied in the win/loss column with Denver and Portland. Sitting five games behind the Utah Jazz for first, they have some work to do, but they have shown flashes of being a playoff contender.
On Friday, Phoenix beat the Detroit Pistons 109-92 behind a strong effort from Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Booker had 23 points while Paul filled the stat sheet with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.
The Suns are the favorite playing at home. They are -148 to win while the Celtic’s moneyline is +126. The spread features Boston +3.
By The Numbers
Boston has been the stronger team thus far on offense. They currently rank 14th in the league in scoring averaging 111.9 points per game. Phoenix comes in 21st averaging 109.9 per game.
Defensively, it is Phoenix with the upper hand. They rank 4th in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 107.5 points per game to opponents. Boston is also solid, ranking 9th allowing an average of 109.7 points per game.
Boston Trying To Get It Done Shorthanded
Perennially a contender in the Eastern Conference, Boston has struggled at times this season, largely because of injuries. Both Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are out for this game. This season, Brown has averaged 26.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, and Smart has averaged 13.1 points and 6.1 assists.
With these two out, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker will have to elevate their games. Tatum leads the team averaging 27.3 points on 47.6% shooting. He is also chipping in 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Walker has only played in 8 games but is averaging 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He played in their win on Friday and scored 24 points in 32 minutes.
Phoenix Trying To Create Separation In West
While the Suns currently sit in sixth in the West, they also know that they can’t get complacent. In fact, fourth place and fourteenth place in the West are separated by just four games. With such a cluster, the Suns would like to get on a winning streak to create some separation.
Leading the way for the Suns is the tandem of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. On the season, Booker has led the team in scoring averaging 23.1 points on 47.6% shooting. He is also chipping in 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Paul has been a solid addition for the Suns this season. In 21 games played, he is averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.2 steals, solidifying the point guard position for the team.
One strength of Phoenix is their depth. Deandre Ayton (13.9 points, 12.8 rebounds), Mikal Bridges (13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists), Cameron Johnson (11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds), Dario Saric (10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds), and Jae Crowder (10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists) have all been productive. Unfortunately, Saric is out as he is in COVID-19 protocol, and Crowder is questionable with an injured foot.
Taking Suns To Win And Cover
If all things were even and everyone was full strength, I would really like the Celtics in this one. However, with Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart out, those are two big pieces of the puzzle for the Celtics.
Jayson Tatum is good enough to keep it close, but I like the Suns to both win and cover the modest 3-point spread in this one.