Celtics vs Nets Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Atlantic Division Rivals to Clash in Brooklyn
Nets Scrambling for Players
It’s all hands on deck for the Brooklyn Nets as they look to scramble for a home win against the surging Boston Celtics. Without the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the recently traded James Harden, the Nets are in survival mode as the second half of the season commences.
Celtics Not Needing Luck of Irish
It was a scratchy start to the season for the Boston Celtics, but they’re back on track and looking to improve their position on the Eastern Conference ladder.

Prior to losing to the Detroit Pistons 112-111 before the All Star break, the Celtics were surging after beating the likes of Philadelphia, Atlanta, Denver and Brooklyn.
The 126-91 win over the Nets is a good indication of what bettors should expect and that has been reflected with NBA betting odds.
The Celtics are -8 road favorites to score consecutive wins over the Nets and they have been an excellent bet in recent weeks.
They are 30-29-1 against the spread overall and they have covered the number in four of their last six games. However, they are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games against the Nets in Brooklyn, so they’ll need to turn that statistic around.
Nets’ Big Three Go Bust
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden played just 16 games together in what was the most disappointing “Super Team” in NBA history.
The Brooklyn Nets are searching for answers after winning only twice in over a month. Losing players to injury and Covid-related issues haven’t helped, so bettors shouldn’t expect to see Durant, Irving or the likes of Ben Simmons and Joe Harris on the court against the Boston Celtics.
Nets General Manager Sean Marks is excited about Simmons making his team debut, but it could be a few days away yet.
“It’s probably going to be tough, to be honest, to be playing in the next three or four days,” Marks told Fox Sports. “But we’ll see how it all plays out.”
Regrouping is needed, but we’re unsure if they’re able to until they get the core of their players back. They have a winning record at 31-28, but we see them dipping below .500 in the near future.
The sportsbook isn’t giving them much respect against the Celtics as +8 home underdogs. We didn’t think we would see a line of that nature for the Nets at home, but the one-time Eastern Conference favorites are a shadow of their former self.
Celtics vs Nets Head-to-Head
The Brooklyn Nets have won three of the last four meetings against the Boston Celtics. However, the Celtics won the most recent meeting 126-91.
The Nets have covered the spread in eight of the last 10 games against the Celtics and they were the underdogs only once.
Celtics vs Nets Game Information
- Game: Boston Celtics (34-26) at Brooklyn Nets (31-28)
- Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Day/Time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Television: NBATV
Celtics vs Nets Betting Lines
Celtics vs Nets Prediction
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets with half their team missing is tough, so we’re taking the Boston Celtics to cover the spread.
Given that the players the Nets don’t have available, betting online markets could have set a double-digit line, so we’ll happily take the -8 number.
We would also include the Celtics -330 moneyline into our NBA parlays. They shouldn’t get beaten, especially with the likes of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum filling up the stats sheet.
The Celtics could produce a huge performance on the road and score around 125 points, which should see the 215 total go over the mark.
The Nets will do well to stay in touch with their second unit on the floor, and until they get their best players back, we can’t bet on them with confidence.