Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Preview, Picks, & Best Bets (4/7/26)
The Charlotte Hornets (43-36) travel to face the Boston Celtics (53-25) at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Both teams are at full strength for this potential first round preview.
Keep reading for Hornets vs. Celtics best bets, and click any odds below to place a bet. For more sportsbook promos, we highly recommend checking out the best sports betting sites. Also check out our daily NBA betting trends for data, odds and insights!
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Hornets vs. Celtics Odds
Hornets vs. Celtics Best Bets & Picks
The best bet in this matchup is to fade Moussa Diabaté’s scoring.
Moussa Diabaté Under 6.5 Points (+100 DraftKings)
Since the All-Star break, only 20.8% of total field goal attempts against Boston’s defense have come from the restricted area. It’s comfortably the lowest percentage in the NBA. Opponents also struggle to convert the shots that they do generate.
Meanwhile, 84.3% of Diabaté’s made field goals this season have been restricted area shots. Stretch fives can find success against the Celtics, but Diabaté has knocked down one three-point shot all season. It’s a nightmare matchup for him, especially since Boston’s defense rarely surrenders offensive rebounds or commits shooting fouls.
Diabaté has faced the Celtics twice this season. He scored nine points in the first game thanks to five made free throws but was held to four points during the second matchup.
Hornets vs. Celtics Preview & Breakdown
The Hornets lead the NBA in net rating since Dec. 20, which is a 52-game sample! Their starting lineup has logged 426 minutes together and outscored opponents by a staggering 25.3 points per 100 possessions. Nobody wants to face this team in the playoffs.
Charlotte currently possesses the eight seed but is only half a game behind the six seed and tied with the nine seed. That’s the difference between a guaranteed playoff spot and needing to win a pair of play-in tournament games in order to make the postseason. The top seeds in the East will be monitoring where the Hornets eventually land.
Basketball Reference gives the Celtics a 98.7% chance to secure the two seed. Boston winning two of its final four games would clinch the spot, as well as Boston winning one game and New York losing one game.
Let’s assume the Celtics hold on to claim the two seed. They would whoever wins the play-in tournament matchup between the seven and eight seeds. Toronto and Charlotte occupy these seeds as of this moment, but Boston defeating Charlotte tonight could wind up pushing the Hornets to the nine seed and out of the Celtics’ path barring an unexpected Conference Finals run by LaMelo Ball and company.
