The Boston Celtics (53-19) and Phoenix Suns (35-37) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Let's get into my Celtics vs. Suns prediction and NBA picks for Wednesday, March 26.
The Celtics are 6-point favorites over the Suns on the spread (Celtics -6), with the over/under set at 221.5 total points. Boston is a -236 favorite to win outright, while Phoenix is +192 to pull off the upset.
Celtics vs Suns Odds
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | -238 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | +195 |
- Celtics vs. Suns spread: Celtics -6
- Celtics vs. Suns over/under: 221.5 points
- Celtics vs. Suns moneyline: Celtics -236, Suns +192
- Celtics vs. Suns best bet: Celtics -3.5
My Celtics vs. Suns best bet is on the Celtics against the spread, with the best line currently available at Caesars. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
My Pick: Celtics -3.5
Celtics vs. Suns Prediction
If not for a 118-112 home loss to the Thunder, the Celtics would be riding a 12-game winning streak. Oklahoma City is clearly in a completely different stratosphere than the Suns and are 25 games above them in the standings.
While Boston has fallen short of the heights it reached during the regular season last year, it remains an outstanding team capable of stringing together unbeaten runs.
Perhaps the most significant advantage the Celtics have is their depth. Head coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff have done a masterful job keeping players healthy and managing minutes.
I've often seen games where one of their stars sits out, yet they still find a way to win.
One thing you can expect from the Celtics is a tremendous level of effort. It's easy to take your foot off the gas as a reigning champion and start to slack off defensively.
However, Boston is still a top-five team in Defensive Efficiency, and its 110.3 rating is even better than last season, which finished at 110.6.
In comparison, Phoenix ranks 26th defensively, allowing 116.4 points per 100 possessions.
A good way to judge a team's effort and hustle is by examining its transition performance. The Suns rank 26th in this category, allowing 17.3 fastbreak points per game.
It's also worth noting that the Suns have the oldest roster in the league, with an average player age of 28.1 years. There's almost an innate aspect to their shortcomings, which the Celtics will undoubtedly look to exploit.
Celtics vs. Suns Pick
Since we're getting a decent price on the Celtics moneyline, we can use them as part of our same-game parlay.
But for the Suns to have any chance to win, they'll need to be aggressive from the perimeter.
In the previous campaign, they ranked 20th in 3-point field goals (12.4). They now sit sixth, averaging 14.4 per game.
There has clearly been a change in the team's tactics and Kevin Durant has even joined in on the fun. Durant is averaging 6.1 3-point attempts — up from 5.4 last season.
The two-time champion also averages 2.6 3-point field goals while shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc. His 3-point prop is set at 2.5, which he has cleared in six of his past seven home games and in 20 of 31 (65%).
At home (3.0), he's averaging almost one more 3-point field goal per game than when he's on the road (2.2).
Look for Durant to be aggressive from long range as Phoenix attempts to keep pace with the perimeter-happy Celtics.
Best Bet: Celtics -3.5
Celtics vs Suns Parlay Picks
Celtics Moneyline
Kevin Durant Over 2.5 3-Pointers Made
Parlay Payout: +185
Suns vs Celtics Betting Trends
