Boston Celtics Vs. Brooklyn Nets: Predictions, Starting Lineups (2/13/24)
Since dropping an embarrassing home loss against the LeBron James and Anthony Davis-less Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics have rattled off four consecutive wins. Can they make it five on Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets? Take a look at our Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, betting picks, and in-depth matchup analysis below to find out!
Boston Celtics Vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction
One thing that you cannot do against Boston is let it get clean looks from behind the arc. The Celtics shoot the most three-pointers per game of any team in the NBA, firing two more threes than the team (Dallas) with the second-most attempts.
Unfortunately, Brooklyn’s perimeter defense has been suspect for most of the 2023-24 season. The Nets rank 24th in opponent 3P% and allow the 11th-most wide-open (6+ feet) three-point attempts to opponents, knocking them down at a 41.1% clip.
Brooklyn is also a marginal three-point shooting team, ranking 22nd in 3P% on its home floor. Now, the Nets have Ben Simmons back in the rotation, giving them two non-shooters (Nic Claxton) in the starting lineup. This could be an issue for Brooklyn, especially against a high-octane Cs offense.
Further, Nic Claxton’s interior presence on the defensive end of the floor will be mitigated because Boston ranks first in the NBA in the percentage of its points that come from three-pointers. The Cs don’t force up contested shots in the paint, meaning Claxton’s impact will be less; he will also have to close out on Kristaps Porzingis on the perimeter, too, so he can’t plant himself in the paint all game.
Still, Boston has not been putting inferior teams away recently, except for the Memphis Grizzlies, who it played right after the horrendous loss to Los Angeles. They were just “in the way” after a frustrating game. Boston has been 1-7 against this line in its last eight games, which is quite concerning. The Cs have been winning a lot, but they just don’t put teams away.
Boston Celtics Vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction: Nets +9 (-110) & Celtics ML (-345)
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Boston Celtics Vs. Brooklyn Nets Best Odds
Boston enters this East Coast matchup against the Brooklyn Nets as nine-point road favorites. The Cs have Moneyline odds of -375 to secure their fifth consecutive win, while the Nets are +295 to upset Boston. The point total hangs at 228 points, with the Under (-115) holding a slight advantage over the Over (-105.)
Boston Celtics Starting Lineup
PG: Derrick White
SG: Jrue Holiday
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Cam Thomas
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
C: Nic Claxton
Boston Celtics Vs. Brooklyn Nets Injuries
Boston’s two new arrivals, Jaden Springer (ankle) and Xavier Tillman (knee), will remain out for this Eastern Conference bout against the Nets. The Cs also have star forward Kristaps Porzingis listed as questionable due to a lower back contusion. Keep an eye on the injury report leading up to this matchup because Porzingis could move the needle on the outcome of this game.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets will continue to be without Dariq Whitehead, who will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 regular season due to a shin injury that required surgery. Additionally, starting forward Cameron Johnson (adductor) will be sidelined for this bout.
