Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Predictions, Picks, Odds

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First Round NBA Playoff action will resume Sunday mid-afternoon with a blockbuster Eastern Conference tilt between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics. Coverage begins from Boston’s TD Garden at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Score Prediction

Nets 108, Celtics 104

Best Bets

Under 225.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Predictions

After finishing seventh in the East with a record of 36-36 SU last year, Boston briefly sustained that same underwhelming pace with a similarly mediocre start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a lackluster 15-20 SU and ATS skid – with ten of those SU losses coming by 10+ PTS.

However, Boston has arguably been the hottest team in basketball since mid-January, considering the Celtics closed out the regular season with an impressive 36-11 SU and 30-16-1 ATS run – while scoring 114.4 OPPG and allowing just 102.8 DPPG during that timeframe.

On the other hand, Brooklyn dominated to open the season, as the Nets kicked things off with an impressive 26-14 SU run – while tallying 110.9 OPPG and allowing just 108.6 DPPG during that span.

Brooklyn has been on quite the rollercoaster since trading away James Harden though, considering the Nets enter Sunday’s matchup riding a head-scratching 19-24 SU skid – while scoring 113.7 OPPG and surrendering 115.6 DPPG across that window.

I’ll take the under here, as the Nets are 5-0 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five games, while surrendering just 108.8 DPPG to their opponents across that span – setting the stage for a hard-fought defensive battle against a Celtics squad that led the league in both points allowed and defensive efficiency during the regular season (104.5 DPPG, 1.036 DE).

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds

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Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Resources

Matchup: Atlantic
Date: Sunday, April 17
Venue: TD Garden
Location: Boston, MA
TV-Time: ABC - 3:30 p.m. ET
Injury Report
NBA Playoff Betting Central

Brooklyn Nets Betting Analysis

SU: 45-38
ATS: 33-47-2
O/U: 40-41-1

After a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in last year’s Eastern Conference Semis’, Brooklyn quickly bounced back with an excellent start to this season, as the Nets cruised into January boasting a sturdy 26-14 SU record; however, they still ranked near the bottom of the barrel ATS at that point with a record of 17-22-1 ATS.

Brooklyn completely fell apart during Kevin Durant’s recent 20-game absence though, considering the Nets enter their first-round playoff matchup riding a frustrating 19-24 SU skid – with nearly three-quarters of those losses coming in the absence of KD (16).

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

SU: 51-31
ATS: 45-36-1
O/U: 40-40-2

After last year’s frustrating 36-36 SU showing, Boston briefly kept the disappointment train rolling with another lackluster start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a head-scratching 15-20 SU skid – despite getting tagged as favorites in 22 of those contests.

However, Boston turned things around with excellent defense down the stretch, considering the Celtics enter Sunday’s series-opener riding a red-hot 36-11 SU stretch, while scoring 114+ PTS in 25 of those contests (114.4 OPPG) – and allowing 100 PTS or less in 21 of them (102.8 DPPG).

**The Nets are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 matchups against Boston. (Getty Images)**

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Head-to-Head

The Nets swept a three-game regular-season set against Boston last year, with the first two matchups going over the total at an average of 224 PPG, while the third event stayed under with a score of 109-104 (U 225). The Celtics and Nets also met up in the first round of last year’s playoffs, which resulted in a relatively comfortable five-game series victory for Brooklyn. However, Boston went 3-1 SU against Brooklyn this season, with all four matchups cruising over the total at an average of 231.3 PPG.

Key Players to Watch

BKN: Kevin Durant - SF (29.9 PPG, 7.4 REB, 6.4 AST)
BKN: Kyrie Irving - PG (27.4 PPG, 4.4 REB, 5.8 AST)
BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (26.9 PPG, 8 REB, 4.4 AST)
BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (23.6 PPG, 6.1 REB, 3.5 AST)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Conclusion

After posting a solid home victory over Cleveland in Tuesday’s seven-eight seed matchup (W, 115-108), the Nets hit the road for Sunday’s first-round series-opener as short underdogs against the Celtics at TD Garden – marking the first time Brooklyn has been an underdog since visiting Memphis on March 23^rd (L, 132-120).

I’ll take the under here, as the Celtics closed out the regular season with a sturdy 12-4 SU and 11-5 ATS run, while surrendering just 106.1 DPPG to their opponents across that span – setting the stage for a relatively low-scoring battle against a Nets squad that’s allowed 108 PTS or less in four of their last five contests (108.8 DPPG).

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Nets are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games.
The Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in six of the last seven Nets' games.
The total has gone OVER in ten of the last 12 Celtics' games.
The Nets are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 matchups against Boston.
The total has gone OVER in seven of the last eight matchups between Brooklyn and Boston.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson