Eastern Conference rivals will square off Friday night as the Brooklyn Nets (34-28, 6th in the East) take on the Boston Celtics (45-18, 2nd in the East). The Celtics will host this one at the TD Garden, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.
The Celtics are massive favorites playing at home. They are -590 to win, while the Nets’ moneyline sits at +430. The spread features Brooklyn as 10.5-point underdogs (-110).
Nets Trying To Stop Skid
Despite still sitting in a playoff position, the Brooklyn Nets have been on a massive skid, losing eight of their last ten, including four in a row. It won’t get any easier as they take on Boston on the road, where they are 16-16 this season.
Obviously, the Nets are a shell of their former selves after trading away both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Ranked as the 17th-best offense (113.7 points per game), the Nets are led by Mikal Bridges, who is averaging 23.4 points, five rebounds, and 3.1 assists in seven games.
Other contributors include Cameron Johnson (19 points, 3.6 rebounds), Spencer Dinwiddie (16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists), and Nic Claxton (12.5 points, nine rebounds).
Defensively, Brooklyn ranks 15th overall, allowing an average of 113.4 points per game. Over their last three contests, though, that number has been at 129.7 points per game.
Celtics Trying To Keep Pace In East
At 45-18, the Boston Celtics sit just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Bucks for first in the Eastern Conference. As they try to keep pace, the Celtics will look to improve on their home record, which currently sits at a spectacular 25-7.
Offensively, Boston has been one of the best teams in the NBA. They currently rank fourth overall, averaging 117.7 points per game (121.1 at home).
They are led by superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. For Tatum, he is averaging 30.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Almost just as solid, Brown is putting up 26.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Malcolm Brogdon (14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists), Derrick White (11.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists), and Marcus Smart (11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists) have also had great seasons.
On the defensive side, the Celtics rank ninth overall, allowing opponents an average of 112 points per game.
Take Celtics To Win And Cover
The Nets come into this one having gone 0-10 against Boston straight up in their last 10 games and 0-6 against the spread in their last six. Overall, they are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games.
As for Boston, they are 8-2 straight up and 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games. They are undefeated in their last five home games.
These two teams are going completely separate directions. The Nets have been freefalling while the Celtics remain strong.
Especially playing at home, the Celtics should be able to not only win this game, but win it handedly as well.
Take Boston to both win and to cover the massive 10.5-point spread (-110).
