Wednesday’s NBA action begins with a battle in Boston as the Celtics welcome the Golden State Warriors to town. It’s been a rough few weeks for the visitors as they continue to weather an extensive list of injuries; however, the C’s are largely healthy and are 7-3 over their last 10 contests. Can this ragtag Dubs squad stand a chance against one of the top teams in the league?
Here’s a Warriors vs. Celtics prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of the 7 p.m. EST tip.
Warriors vs. Celtics prediction, preview
Golden State Warriors
The last few weeks haven’t treated the Warriors kindly whatsoever. Superstar Steph Curry continues to manage an injury and hasn’t played since January 30, with his team going just 6-12 over this span without him. While they’re still in the Play-In Tournament picture at 33-35, they’ve fallen to ninth in the Western Conference and have just a half-game lead over the No. 10 seed now.
Overall, Golden State maintains a +0.9 NETRTG that places the team 17th in the league, also operating at the 17th-ranked pace. The Warriors rely on defense, especially at the moment since the offense has regressed to just 111.3 PPG since Curry’s injury. They allow 114.4 PPG to opponents and often look to drag opponents into the mud with physical play. While just 22nd in rebounding with 42.9 boards per game, they’re fourth in opponent turnovers and second in steals per game. As mentioned above though, the offense has struggled as of late. The Warriors are third in assists per game and 12th in AST/TO ratio, but they shoot just 45.9% from the field with a 35.7% three-point percentage, both of which are outside of the league’s top half.
With Curry out and Jimmy Butler sidelined as he will be for the remainder of the season, other names have had to step up in Golden State. Kristaps Porzingis averages 17.6 PPG over his five games with the team, and De’Anthony Melton has pitched in 13.4 PPG as well. The man running the show at the moment though is Brandin Podziemski, who averages 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists over 10 starts since the All-Star break. Draymond Green remains a standout defender with 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists as well. However, Quinten Post is questionable to play tonight and Moses Moody is out as well.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics were surely overjoyed to get Jayson Tatum back into the lineup, and they’re a strong 4-1 when he plays this season. Overall, they’re 45-23 and remain second in the Eastern Conference, and a 23-10 record on their own home floor is one of the best in the Association.
Boston has a +7.6 NETRTG that ranks second in the entire league, and the team drags the pace at dead last in the category. The Celtics are a truly dominant defensive unit that allows a league-low 107.1 PPG and sits fifth in DEFRTG as well. Opponents have the third-lowest eFG% against them as well, and the C’s are also ninth in blocks per game. Boston falls fifth in rebounding with 46.2 boards a night, and there are plenty of positives about the offense as well. The Celtics average 114.3 PPG but are second in OFFRTG. They shoot 46.4% from the field and 36.2% from three, overwhelming opponents through three-point volume at third in 3PA and 3PM per game. While 28th in assists, they’re eighth in AST/TO ratio, too.
Jaylen Brown remains the main main with 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists on the full season’s sample. However, Tatum has instantly produced as well in his five games since returning from injury with 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game with standout two-point finishing. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard still hold down the guard tandem with 17.7 PPG/5.7 APG and 16.7 PPG/5.3 APG. Neemias Queta anchors things at center with 9.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, though Nikola Vucevic remains out behind him.
Warriors vs. Celtics pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Celtics as -12.5 home favorites tonight with -650 odds on the Moneyline. The Warriors are listed at +470 odds on the ML with the game total set at 216.5 combined points.
Even given all of Golden State’s injuries, this group has still managed to keep games close for the most part. While a win feels very unlikely, we should keep in mind that all but one of the Warriors’ eight games this month have been decided by fewer than 13 points. Since Curry departed the lineup, they’ve kept 14 of their 18 games within tonight’s spread, including the last matchup against Boston — which was an 11-point loss in a 121-110 finish back on February 19.
This game could become a blowout, but Podziemski has put his best basketball on the floor recently and Porzingis could be extra motivated tonight against his former team. Given the defensive intensity the Warriors bring, they shouldn’t get outright embarrassed. They’ll keep this one close enough to cover at +12.5.
Top pick: GS Warriors +12.5 (-115)
