The Nets are hosting the Celtics on Tuesday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Boston is favored by 11.5 points and this game carries a total of 222.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup and provide a pick for the game.
Celtics vs. Nets preview, prediction
While the Celtics are just 7-7 this season, they have been playing better than their record suggests. Boston ranks eighth in net rating while ranking sixth in offensive rating and 13th in defensive rating. The Celtics have continued to heavily rely on their three-point shooting this season, ranking second in three-point attempts per game (44.4). While this was hurting them to start the season, Boston is finally starting to shoot it well from deep again, shooting 38.4% on three pointers over its last five games, which is a big improvement from its 34% average for the season.
This improvement has been directly correlated with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard shooting the deep ball much better, as they both adjust to their new roles with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined. White has scored at least 18 points in four straight while shooting 41% on three-pointers and Pritchard has scored 23 and 30 points in his last two while shooting 57% from beyond the arc. When White and Pritchard are shooting it well, to complement the always reliable Jaylen Brown who is averaging a career-high 27.4 PPG this season, the Celtics are a tough team to defeat. This trio should continue to thrive against this struggling Nets team.
Brooklyn has been one of the worst clubs in the league with a 2-11 record and ranking 27th in net rating. The Nets’ defensive rating ranks dead last, and they rank 24th in offensive rating. Cam Thomas (hamstring) is out and with the ball dominant guard missing, Michael Porter Jr. has been doing everything possible to make Brooklyn competitive.
With Thomas inactive for the last five, Porter Jr. is leading the Nets with 26.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 48% from the field and handling a 28.9% usage rate. While the wing has been putting up big numbers, Porter Jr. hasn’t received much help from his teammates, with the next leading scorer for Brooklyn during this stretch with Thomas sidelined being Nic Claxton at 16.0 PPG.
The Celtics have been strong at defending small forwards this season, giving up the sixth-fewest PPG to the position and if they can slow down Porter Jr., Boston should have no trouble beating this lowly Nets team.
Celtics vs. Nets pick, best bet
The Celtics are going to win this game, but covering this 11.5-point spread is a more challenging feat for this Boston team that is just 5-9 ATS this season. A more appealing wager for this game is backing the Celtics for over their team total of 116.5 points.
With White and Pritchard shooting the ball efficiently from deep, Boston has scored 131 and 121 points in its last two games and the Celtics should continue to light it up on offense tonight, facing this Nets defense that ranks dead last in rating and is allowing the sixth-most PPG this season (121.9).
