Tip-off: 1700, 28/11/2019
Stadium: Barclays Center
TV: Sky Sports
Boston Celtics take on the Brooklyn Nets for the second time in three days as the NBA resumes after a Thanksgiving Day break.
A fit-again Kemba Walker scored 39 points on Wednesday night as the Celtics eased to a 121-110 success in Boston.
The home fans missed the chance to give their former player Kyrie Irving a ‘friendly’ welcome, though, as the six-time All-Star missed the game through a shoulder injury.
Fans still shouted ‘Kyrie sucks’ loudly throughout the contest and it led to a lengthy Instagram response from the 27-year-old, who left Boston for Brooklyn in free agency this summer.
Irving has not been ruled out of this evening’s return and his availability would certainly give an extra level of intensity to this Eastern Conference clash.
However, we’re sticking with 57/100 for an away victory as our first Nets vs Celtics prediction.
A Look At Brooklyn Nets’ Betting Odds
The stats suggests Brooklyn should not be too fussed if Irving is available or not.
His last three games all ended in defeats, while in his absence, the Nets have gone 5-2, with Wednesday’s loss ending a four-match winning run.
But if Irving plays, you can expect a response, particularly following the off-court events.
Irving averages just over eight points per game more in home games (33.0) than on the road (24.8). A 30-point performance would not be a surprise.
The defeat in Boston saw Spencer Dinwiddie held to 16 points – the first time the point guard had dipped below 20 since Irving was sidelined.
Should Irving be absent, expect a return to the 20s here.
Brooklyn put up 110 points in a losing effort at TD Arena, slightly below their season average of 112.6 per game, but it was more points than the Celtics had conceded in any of their last six games.
Playing at home – where Brooklyn have won four of their last five – you can expect plenty of points, so 91/100 for over 216.5 in total appeals from the Nets vs Celtics odds.
A Look At Boston Celtics’ Betting Odds
Boston have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind the streaking Milwaukee Bucks, and they have shown little sign of missing Irving.
Big summer acquisition Walker is the main reason, averaging 21.1 points and 4.7 assists per game for his new team, while young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have taken big leaps with their development.
Tatum is averaging over 20 points per game at this early stage of the season, having averaged 15.7 with Irving last term, while Brown’s numbers have rocketed from 13.0 to a career-high 19.2.
Bwin has an NBA Price Boost of 9/1 for Marcus Smart and Brown to both score at least 20 points.
Six of Boston’s 13 wins so far this season have come on the road, but so have all four of their defeats and they are travelling to an arena where they lost on both visits last season.
But no team has a higher defensive rating on the road than the Celtics this season and we’re taking them to complete a back-to-back double by beating the Nets again.
Let’s go with 7/2 for a winning margin of 6-10 to complete our Nets vs Celtics betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
BOSTON 121-110 BROOKLYN
Previous head-to-head: Brooklyn 110-96 Boston, Boston 112-104 Brooklyn.
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