The Boston Celtics can move one step closer toward clinching the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs as well as home-court advantage throughout the postseason when they host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. The Celtics (51-14) enter the game with the NBA’s best record, and they are 9.5 games ahead of the second-place Bucks and Cavaliers in the East. Meanwhile, the Suns (38-27) are tied for sixth in the West with the Kings. They’re playing the second game of a four-game East Coast road trip. Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) is out for tonight, while Jaylen Brown (hip) is questionable.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are listed as 6-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Suns odds, per SportsLine consensus, while the Over/Under for total points scored is 227.5. Before making any Suns vs. Celtics picks or NBA predictions, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine’s proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 70-46 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Suns. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Suns vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Suns spread: Boston -6
- Celtics vs. Suns over/under: 227.5 points
- Celtics vs. Suns money line: Boston -246, Phoenix +197
- BOS: Celtics lead the NBA in offensive efficiency (121.7 points per 100 possessions)
- PHX: Kevin Durant ranks fourth in the league in scoring (28.5 points per game)
- Celtics vs. Suns picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Jayson Tatum is having an MVP-caliber season as the 26-year-old forward ranks seventh in the league in scoring (27.0 points per game). He also is averaging 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. He is coming off a 38-point, six-rebound performance in a 123-107 win over the Jazz.
Tatum is the engine behind the most efficient offense in the league. Boston leads the NBA in offensive efficiency (121.7 points per 100 possessions). Since Feb. 4 the Celtics have been even better, scoring 126.5 points per 100 possessions, well ahead of the second-best team over that time, Dallas (120.0). See whom to back at SportsLine.
Why the Suns can cover
Phoenix has one of the greatest scorers in league history in Durant. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has scored 28,544 career points, which ranks ninth on the league’s all-time scoring list. He needs 53 points to surpass Shaquille O’Neal for the No. 8 spot. This season Durant ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (28.5 points per game).
In addition, Grayson Allen is having a career year for the Suns. Acquired in last summer’s blockbuster, three-team trade, Allen is averaging a career-high 13.0 points per game. He also leads all NBA players in 3-point percentage (47.4). See whom to back at SportsLine.
How to make Celtics vs. Suns picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 225 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
So who wins Suns vs. Celtics, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Suns spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 70-46 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
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