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Suns vs. Celtics Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read


Apr. 22, 2021
by Joe Williams
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Phoenix Suns (42-16) continue their road trip against the Boston Celtics (31-27) at TD Garden for Thursday's battle at 7 p.m. ET.

The Suns are 2-for-2 so far on their current five-game road trip, picking up a 116-113 win in Philadelphia on Wednesday to push at most shops on a three-point number as the OVER (217.5) barely inched across the finish line. The Celtics, meanwhile, have had a couple of days off to stew after a 102-96 loss at home on Monday.

Suns vs. Celtics Betting Resources

Betting Odds - Suns vs. Celtics

Line Movements

Subject to Change

  • Spread: Phoenix -7.5
  • Money-Line: Suns -285, Celtics +230
  • Total: 224.5

The Suns are favored by nearly four buckets in this cross-country battle, and perhaps that's a bit surprising to some. But Phoenix has pushed past Eastern Conference contenders Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the first two games of the road trip. Unless you've been under a rock this season, you know the Suns are a legit NBA title contender.

The Celtics, on the other hand, are just barely above .500, or four games over to be exact. They recently just returned to the winning side thanks to a six-game win streak from April 7-17 before a six-point home loss against the Bulls on Monday.


The Suns look for their third straight win on their road trip as they visit Boston on Thursday night. (AP)

Suns vs. Celtics Current Form-Last Game

The Suns picked up a 116-113 victory against the Sixers on Wednesday night, and now they have the quick turnaround in Beantown. Chris Paul led the way on Wednesday with 28 points, hitting an efficient 10-for-17 from the field while dropping in five triples.

CP3 wasn't the only stud, however, as the Suns had five players with double-digit point totals. They won despite hitting just 15-of-42 from behind the three-point line, or 36.0%. That's 42 attempts, and not a typo. The difference was their free-throw shooting, hitting 90.0%, or 19-for-21, including Devin Booker going a solid 7-of-8.

As far as the Celtics are concerned, they managed to hoist up just 96 points in their loss to the Bulls, tied for the lowest points in a single game since a 91-point effort in Washington on Valentine's Day.

The C's hit just 36 field goals for the entire game, hitting at a 47% clip, and they dropped in 10 triples. They were outrebounded 40-30 by the Bulls, and they turned it over 15 times to just 12 for the Bulls.

Suns vs. Celtics Head-to-Head

  • Feb. 7, 2021 - Suns 100 vs. Celtics 91, Phoenix -3, Under 215

The teams meet just two times per season, and this is the second of the matchup. The Suns won a low-scoring 100-91 game in the desert as three-point favorites and the total never threated to go OVER. In fact, the teams combined for 47 or fewer points in three of the four quarters.

The C's hit just 35% from the field in that loss in Phoenix, and tey were just 17-of-44 from behind the three-point line, or 39%. The good news is that Boston turned it over just five times while committing just 11 personal fouls, but the bad news is that they were outrebounded 50-41, and the Suns won despite hitting just 28% from behind the arc, or 8-for-29. They won't shoot that poorly again.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Phoenix Suns Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 41-16 SU, 36-21 ATS, 30-27 OU
  • Road: 18-7 SU, 16-9 ATS, 11-14 OU

Outside of a speed bump in the homestand finale against San Antonio, a 111-85 blowout loss on April 17, the Suns have been humming along. They're 6-1 SU across the past seven while scoring 116 or more points in five of the past seven.

The Suns have also won eight consecutive games against Eastern Conference foes, while going 5-2-1. Their last loss vs. East came on March 24 in Orlando in the second end of a back-to-back with Miami in the front end. Maybe a little partying on South Beach?

Phoenix has won five of the past six overall on the road while going 2-3-1 ATS. The OVER is 3-1 across its past four on the road, too.

Boston Celtics Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 31-27 SU, 28-30 ATS, 29-29 OU
  • Home: 18-11 SU, 15-14 ATS, 12-17 OU

The C's are also on a nice little run against teams from the 'other' conference. Boston is on a 6-0 SU/5-0-1 ATS run across the past six against the Western Conference since a 113-108 loss at home against the Dallas Mavericks.

The C's have picked up the pace with three OVER results in the past four outings after a 8-1 UNDER run from March 27-April 11. The OVER is 3-0 in the past three against Western Conference teams.

As an underdog, Boston is 3-0 SU/ATS in the past three since a 121-119 loss at Milwaukee, a game they also covered. They're 4-0 ATS in the past four as an underdog. The OVER is also 4-1 in the past five as an underdog for the C's.

Key Injuries

Phoenix Suns

  • SF Abdel Nader: Knee - Questionable

Boston Celtics

  • SF Jayson Tatum: Ankle - Probable
  • PG Marcus Smart: Illness - Probable
  • SG Jaylen Brown: Shoulder - Doubtful
  • PG Kemba Walker: Illness - Questionable
  • C Robert Williams III: Knee - Questionable
  • SG Evan Fournier: Quarantine - Out

Suns vs. Celtics Prediction

The Celtics were playing pretty well before their inexplicable loss at home to the Bulls on Monday. They're rested, they are home and the Suns just played a tough, physical game less than 24 hours ago. It's a nice spot to fade the Suns.

As far as the total, the Celtics are coming off an ugly outing, hitting the UNDER. The UNDER hit in their first meeting with the Suns, too. However, you expect more points from Boston, who have fresh legs, and perhaps a little exploitation of the Suns, who will have some heavy legs in their third game in the past four outings.

Score Prediction: Celtics 113, Suns 111
Best Bet: Celtics +7.5

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