Celtics vs Nets Picks and Predictions: Celtics Cruise vs. Superstar-less Nets

The second half of the NBA season starts with a bang in the East where the favorites to win the conference crown clash with perhaps the hottest team on that side of the league. 

The Boston Celtics are Big Apple bound, taking on the Brooklyn Nets, with the post-All-Star break schedule tipping off Thursday. The NBA betting odds have the Celtics set as 6.5-point road favorites inside the Barclays Center, as the Nets are likely still without their superstars.

Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for Boston and Brooklyn on February 24.

Celtics vs Nets odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Bookmakers opened the Nets as 5.5-point home underdogs and that spread slimmed to +4 with buzz that Brooklyn may have Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons in the lineup for Thursday.

However, Nets GM Sean Marks told the media he doesn’t expect them back in time for the matchup with Boston and that sent the spread up to +6.5. This total opened at 213.5 points and saw a short life at 214.5 before coming back down to 213 points.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Celtics vs Nets predictions

• Prediction: Celtics -6 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 213 (-110)
• Best bet: Smart Over 16.5 points + assists (-105)

Predictions made on 2/23/2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Celtics vs Nets game info

• Location: Barclays Center, New York City, NY
• Date: Thursday, February 24, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT

Celtics vs Nets betting preview

Key injuries

Celtics: Marcus Smart G (Probable), Robert Williams C (Probable)
Nets: Kevin Durant F (Doubtful), Ben Simmons G (Doubtful), Kyrie Irving G (Out), James Johnson F (Questionable), Goran Dragic G (Questionable), Joe Harris G (Out)

Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Nets are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Nets.

Celtics vs Nets picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

Things are looking up in Brooklyn, with Durant and Simmons expected back within the week and the state of New York looking to repeal vaccination mandates in March, which means Kyrie Irving would be available for home games. 

But until then, the Nets remain a shell of the title contender atop the Eastern Conference futures and run into a Celtics side looking to pick up where they left off before the break. Boston won nine in a row before a hiccup against Detroit prior to the All-Star break, locking down opponents to just 95.9 points per game and boasting an advanced defensive rating of 97.3 in that 10-game span. 

The Nets have been counting down the days until Durant’s return and are a team in transition since dealing James Harden for Simmons at the trade deadline.

So far this month, Brooklyn sits 25th in offensive rating at 108.1 – dipping to 101.3 at home without Irving in action. Finding points in this first game back from the break is a tall task for the skeleton crew in Brooklyn, even if the Celtics are slow to find that defensive dominance.

Boston already blasted the ghost of the Brooklyn Nets 126-91 inside the Barclays Center this month, easily covering as 10.5-point road chalk on February 8. Pending a late pivot on the status of Durant, these lineups don’t look much different than the ones from that one-sided contest, save for Nets veteran big Andre Drummond.  

With the team ever so close to getting its “Big 3” on the court, Brooklyn isn’t thinking about Thursday night but rather the long term. And Boston knows it had better get these easy wins over the Nets while it can.

Prediction: Celtics -6 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

As good as the Celtics’ defense has been for the past month-plus, their offense has been nothing to scoff at either. Boston has put up 114.5 points per game in that 10-game stretch, getting solid scoring balance from the starters as well as the reserves. 

The Boston bench gets a big boost with the expected return of guard Marcus Smart, who missed the final game before the break with an ankle injury and the frontcourt adds some muscle with forward Robert Williams III also trending toward a return after missing the previous two outings. That gives Boston all six of its top scorers – all of which are averaging 10 or more points.

Brooklyn is leaning heavily on the guard combo of Patty Mills and Seth Curry to keep the offense somewhat competitive until the superstar help arrives.

Rookie reserve guard Cam Thomas has also made the most of his added minutes, averaging 18 points in February. Look for those guards to have the green light and try to get their production while they can.

Prediction: Over 213 (-110)

Best bet

Marcus Smart was having a nice February before injuring his ankle before the All-Star break. But, if you are going to hurt yourself, that’s a pretty convenient time to do so. Smart was back at practice without any hitches Wednesday and looking to pick up where he left off.

He’s averaging 13.6 points and 4.6 assists in seven games this month, playing a little over 28 minutes per contest. The Celtics’ winning ways have seen a spike in ball movement and the team’s assist totals and assist to field goal rate have climbed.

Before being limited to only 13 minutes due to the ankle injury against Philadelphia on February 15, Smart had back-to-back seven assist outings in wins over Atlanta (13 points) and Denver (22 points). He also posted a stat line of 22 points and three assists in the win at Brooklyn on February 8.

With Mills and Curry patrolling the perimeter, Smart doesn’t face the stiffest tests from defenders and has plenty of scoring options when he looks to distribute. 

Pick: Marcus Smart Over 16.5 points + assists (-105)

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