The Boston Celtics (21-12) and Los Angeles Clippers (12-21) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Clippers are 1.5-point favorites over the Celtics on the spread (Clippers -1.5), with the over/under set at 220 total points. Los Angeles is a -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Boston is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Celtics vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, January 3.
Celtics vs Clippers Prediction, Picks
- Celtics vs Clippers pick: Ivica Zubac Under 11.5 Rebounds + Assists (+105)
My Clippers vs Celtics best bet is on Ivica Zubac Under 11.5 Rebounds + Assists, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Celtics vs Clippers Odds
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 220 -110o / -110u | +100 |
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 220 -110o / -110u | -120 |
Celtics vs Clippers NBA Preview
Ivica Zubac returns for the Clippers on Saturday, but I'll be on his under in what is a tough matchup for the big man.
The Celtics allow the 3rd-fewest rebounds and assists per game this season, thanks in part to the 2nd-slowest pace in the league.
There's also the matter of Zubac returning after missing five games with an ankle injury.
That is not a massive amount of time, and ankle injuries are common, but I am projecting Zubac for 28 minutes in part because of how well Brook Lopez played with Zubac out.
The Clippers won all five games, and Lopez started to look a lot more like himself.
It would not surprise me to see Zubac sit around 30 minutes, even when fully healthy, with Lopez getting more minutes off the bench than he had before the Zubac injury.
Add it all together, and I'll take the under on Zubac's rebounds and assists on Saturday.
Celtics vs Clippers Best Bet
- Ivica Zubac Under 11.5 Rebounds + Assists (+105, bet365)
