The Boston Celtics (26-6) travel to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder (22-9) on Tuesday, January 2nd. This game will be played at Paycom Center. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Celtics vs Thunder

The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win

The Celtics picked up a win over the Spurs in their latest game, finishing with a score of 134-101. Not only did the Celtics win this game straight-up, but they also covered the spread as -14.5 point favorites. Considering the over/under, the total of 235 points fell short of the set over/under line of 242.

Over their last ten games, the Celtics are 9-1 and have an overall record of 26-6 as they get ready to take on the Thunder. When playing against teams from the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are 21-4 and are 5-2 in non-conference play.

Boston holds a .500 ATS record for the season, standing at 15-15 ATS. On the road, the Celtics have an ATS record of 6-9 compared to a 9-6 record vs. the spread at home.

The Thunder Are Coming Off A Win

Most recently, the Thunder bested the Nets with a score of 124-108. the Thunder entered the second half with an advantage, leading with 59-56.

In their last five games, the Thunder are 4-1 and have an overall record of 22-9. When playing on the road this season, they are 9-4 compared to 13-5 at home.

Oklahoma City currently has an ATS record of 23-8, placing them above .500 against the spread. Oklahoma City has covered the spread in two consecutive road games, while maintaining an ATS record of 10-3 on the road as opposed to 13-5 at home.

Celtics Offense Breakdown

Leading up to today’s matchup, the Celtics are one of the NBA’s top offenses, averaging 120.8 points per game (6th). The Celtics come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 16.1 made 3’s per game. If the Celtics offense is going to improve, they could look to play at a faster tempo, as they currently average just 98.4 possession per game. This could benefit the team as they are currently one of the better 3-point shooting units in the NBA.

Thunder Offense Breakdown

Coming into today’s action, Oklahoma City is averaging 121.3 points per contest. This figure places them 4th in the league. The Thunder come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 13 made 3’s per game. A key to the teams offensive success is their ability to avoid turning the ball over. So far, Oklahoma City is ranked 4th in fewest turnovers per game.

Celtics Team Defense

So far this season, the Celtics defense has been performing well, ranking 4th in the NBA at 110.2 points allowed per contest. Boston struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Spurs, giving up 13. For the game, San Antonio scored 101 points in the game.

Thunder Team Defense

So far, the Thunder defense is giving up 112.7 points per contest, which has them sitting 11th in the NBA. One thing to note, is they have given up more points than their season average in three straight matchups. On two point field goal attempts, the Thunder’s defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 50.8% and allowing 36.2% from beyond the arc.

Key Players For The Celtics And Thunder

The outlook for today’s matchup points to Jayson Tatum as the primary point contributor for the Celtics, finishing with 27 points while maintaining a 9/19 shooting accuracy. For the season, he has been averaging 26.9 points per game, in addition to 8.4 rebounds.

On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is our projected leading scorer for the Thunder. We have him ending the game with a team-high 31 and grabbing 5 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 54.6%, and his scoring average is 31.2 points per game.

Celtics vs Thunder Trends

• Across the Celtics last ten road games, the team averaged 121 points per game while allowing 113. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 4-6, while going 6-4 straight-up.
• Oklahoma City has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 120 points per game while allowing 112. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• As the betting underdog, the Thunder have an ATS mark of just 7-3 in their last ten games. Oklahoma City posted a straight up mark of 5-5 in these matchups.
• Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Celtics have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-2.

 

Celtics vs Thunder Prediction

 

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +3, the Thunder is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 239.5, and our model predicts the Celtics and Thunder to score a combined 230 points. We recommend betting on the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.