Tonight's February 9th matchup at TD Garden will showcase two teams on different trajectories this season. The Celtics are the leader of the Eastern Conference, while the visiting Wizards are at the bottom of the standings, ranking 14th in the East and 29th in the league.
Boston had a nice run at home, but after 20 consecutive wins at the TD Garden, they started losing at home, and the tally so far includes three losses on home court. It's doubtful Washington can win tonight, although covering the 16.5-point spread as an underdog might be achievable. Their record shows only nine wins this season, and they arrive in Boston after sustaining a defeat by the Cavaliers at home.
On the other hand, the Celtics have 39 wins so far, with the latest secured on Tuesday against the Hawks. Let's preview the odds for a bet with a DraftKings sports promo code.
The Celtics Are Strong at TD Garden
Boston’s roster is impressive, but the team thought they needed some reinforcement and traded for Xavier Tillman from the Grizzlies this week. Tillman is still not an active contributor on the team, but that did not hamper the Celtics from recording a 125-117 win against the Hawks on Wednesday. Center Kristaps Porzingis scored 31 points on Wednesday, while Jayson Tatum produced 20 points and nine rebounds.
The offense averages 120 points per game, with a 47.8% field shooting percentage and 37.8% from the three-point line. Boston makes 16.3 three-pointers per game, the most in the league. Another stat category in which they lead the NBA in rebounding with 47.5 per game.
Opponents score 110.8 points against the Celtics defense, which steals 6.4 balls a game. Boston is a championship-caliber team, and even without Jrue Holiday, who is questionable for tonight, this roster can dominate on both sides of the ball.
The Wizards Are In Free Fall
The trade deadline is fast approaching, but the Wizards are passive and not making significant changes to their roster, which clearly needs a tune-up. Losing has only one advantage for the team: securing a top-3 pick in the draft.
Washington averages 114.5 points a night, shooting 47.5% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. Ball security is not the biggest issue, with 13.4 turnovers per game, but the -8 rebounding differential shows they are losing the battle under the rim. The offensive numbers are respectable, but the trouble starts on the defensive side of the ball.
The Wizards allow 123.8 points per game. This team is more crafty in stealing the ball than the Celtics, with 7.8 steals per game. It has been a rough season and is not going to get easier against a playoff-tested team such as the Celtics.
Betting Prediction
The Celtics are on the road to another Eastern Conference final, while the Wizards have lost theoretical chances to make the postseason. Aside from Jrue Holiday's injury, the Celtics are healthy, and their high-scoring offense will pose a serious challenge for the Wizards' 29th-ranked scoring defense in the league.
The best betting apps offer -1680 odds on the Celtic to win, and the moneyline bet on the Wizards is valued at +950 betting line. The last time these teams met, Boston won 126-107 and covered their spread as a favorite, which this time is set at 16.5 with equal -110 odds on both teams to cover. In October, these teams hit the Over, and this time, a total of 238.5 points offers a -110 betting line for the Over and Under bets.
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