The Boston Celtics (45-18) will host the Los Angeles Lakers (40-21) in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game will broadcast live on ABC.
The Celtics are 7.5-point favorites over the Lakers on the spread (Celtics -7.5), with the over/under set at 226 total points. Boston is a -270 favorite to win outright, while Los Angeles is +220 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Lakers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, March 8.
Lakers vs Celtics Prediction, Picks
Spread
The market is giving the Celtics a ton of respect, betting them up from a four-point favorite to as high as -7.5. However, this Lakers team is more than capable of posing a threat since acquiring Luka Doncic before the trade deadline.
Moneyline
A Lakers' outright win wouldn't surprise me entirely. After all, they have the longest winning streak in the West (eight games) and won two of the last four meetings in Boston.
Over/Under
I see no value on the total, as my model's projection of 226.6 points aligns with the current market number.
My Pick: Lakers +7.5
Lakers vs Celtics Odds, Spread, Lines
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 226 -110o / -110u | +220 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 226 -110o / -110u | -270 |
- Lakers vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -7.5
- Lakers vs. Celtics over/under: 226 total points
- Lakers vs. Celtics moneyline: Lakers +220, Celtics -270
- Lakers vs. Celtics best bet: Lakers +7.5 (-110)
My Celtics vs. Lakers best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics NBA Preview
The Lakers were already a decent team before Doncic's arrival. They were fifth in the Western Conference with a 28-19 mark, and had won six of seven games. Following the trade announcement, Los Angeles won three games before Doncic debuted in a 132-113 victory. They then lost back-to-back games against Utah and Charlotte before rattling off eight straight wins.
One thing about the trade that gets overlooked is the sheer optimism a player like Doncic can bring to a team. Perhaps the most surprising revelation is that Los Angeles has led the league in defensive efficiency (106.9) since his arrival.
Before Doncic joined the team, the Lakers ranked 18th defensively, allowing 113.8 points per 100 possessions. The interesting narrative is that Doncic has often been derided for his defense. However, if his mere presence is enough to galvanize Los Angeles, the Lakers fan base won't have many complaints.
Part of the Lakers' recent defensive success has been their ability to guard the perimeter. With Doncic, they're allowing the second-lowest opponent 3-point field goal percentage (31.6%) behind the Bucks (31.0%). While opponent 3-point percentage can sometimes come with a bit of luck, the underlying numbers suggest the success is at least warranted.
Los Angeles has increased its contested 3-point shots by more than one per game from 16.4 to 17.6, placing them in the top-10 with Doncic in the team. Their perimeter defense will be critical against a Celtics team that leads the league with 17.9 3-point field goals per game.
Boston must be careful that they focus on playing the opponent and not the moment. It's easy to get swept up in this Lakers-Celtics rivalry that's one of the best in the history of the NBA.
With the Lakers winning five of the last 10 games in this series, I'll take my chances with them doing enough to cover the spread.
Lakers vs Celtics Betting Predictions
If my assumption is that the game will be competitive, there's a chance Boston's backup point guard, Payton Pritchard, could have a more limited role. Pritchard has yet to start this season and averages 28.2 minutes per game.
His points + rebounds prop is available at 16.5 (-120) on FanDuel, but has failed to clear this line in eight of his last nine games when facing a top-10 defense for points allowed. Moreover, during those games, Pritchard averaged fewer minutes with 25.2.
If we look at his last three games against the Lakers, Pritchard also stayed well under this projection, averaging 9.67 points + rebounds.
Pritchard's prop is a valuable leg to add to our same-game parlay with the Lakers' covering the spread, boosting our odds to +218.
Lakers vs Celtics Best Bet
- Lakers +7.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Celtics Same Game Parlay
- Payton Pritchard Under 16.5 Points + Rebounds
- Lakers +7
Parlay Payout: +218
Celtics vs. Lakers Betting Trends
- 85% of bets and 84% of the money are on the Lakers to cover the spread
- 47% of bets and 83% of the money on the moneyline are on the Lakers to win outright
- 90% of bets and 84% of the money are on the over
Betting trends via our live, updating NBA public betting & money percentages page.
