Celtics vs Nets Picks and Predictions: Boston Cruises Against Brooklyn Backups

The Boston Celtics are rolling right now as they head to Barclay's Center to face off against the reeling Brooklyn Nets.

The shorthanded Nets have lost eight games in a row and oddsmakers expect their struggles to continue with NBA betting lines installing the Celtics installed as 8.5-point road favorites tonight.

Here are our best free NBA picks and predictions for Celtics vs. Nets on Tuesday, January 8, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Celtics vs Nets odds

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

This line opened with the Celtics as 6.5-point road favorites with the Over/Under at 216. After the news that James Harden would miss his third game in a row, early money has come in on Boston and the Under, shifting the line to Celtics -8.5 with the total ticking down to 213.5.

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 -8.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 213.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Horford Over 6.5 rebounds (-115)

Predictions made on 2/8/2022 at 12:25 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Celtics vs Nets game info

• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
• Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT

Celtics vs Nets betting preview

Key injuries

Celtics: No injuries to report.
Nets: James Harden G (Out), Nic Claxton C (Out), LaMarcus Aldridge C (Out), Kevin Durant SF (Out), Kyrie Irving PG (Out), Joe Harris SG (Out), Paul Millsap PF (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Nets are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog. 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

The Boston Celtics have won five games in a row and are fresh off a 33-point rout of Orlando on Sunday. They've been cooking on both ends of the floor lately and boast an NBA-best net rating of plus-19.9 in their last eight games — with the Warriors way behind in second place at plus-11.4. 

While it's fair to point out that many of those recent victories have been against weak opposition, this current version of the Nets doesn't look any better than the Magic, Pistons, or Kings. 

Matter of fact, the Nets lost 112-101 to Sacramento last week and have dropped eight games in a row going just 1-6-1 ATS during that span. Brooklyn is still the favorite to win the NBA Championship with oddsmakers clearly convinced that when healthy this is still the team to beat. That said, they are nowhere near 100% and if we're being honest they might be closer to 25% tonight. 

MVP candidate Kevin Durant is still sidelined with a knee injury, joining two other injured starters in Joe Harris and LaMarcus Aldridge. Kyrie Irving still can't suit up for home games due to his vaccine status and their third superstar James Harden has been ruled out for the third game in a row with a hamstring injury.

Trade rumors are also swirling around Harden at the moment and with veteran forward Paul Millsap refusing to play, it's safe to say there's trouble in paradise.

While the absence of Durant has obviously affected the Nets on offense, it has also really hurt them on the other end of the floor as well. Since Durant hit the IL on January 16, Brooklyn ranks dead-last in the league in defensive rating and will have a tough time containing Jaylen Brown (23.9 ppg) and Jayson Tatum (25.6 ppg).

Without Harden, Durant, and Irving, the Nets will struggle to put the ball in the hoop with Patty Mills and Cam Thomas forced to pick up the slack. The Nets won't be able to score enough to keep things close against a Celtics team that has the best defensive rating in the NBA since Christmas. 

Prediction: Celtics -8.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

The total is currently at 213.5 but with how shorthanded the Nets are, that number makes a lot of sense. When the Nets are without two of their big three, they've really struggled to put the ball in the hoop and they will be without all three tonight. 

Brooklyn has been held to fewer than 105 points in three-straight games and now faces off against one of the league's best defensive teams.

The Celtics are fourth in the league in scoring defense with 104 points per game allowed. And that number has dropped to an incredible 92.8 ppg on 38% shooting in their last eight games. With the Celtics going 7-1 to the Under during that recent eight-game span, back it again tonight. 

Prediction: Under 213.5 (-110)

Best bet

We've mentioned how much the Nets offense struggles without Durant and Harden but it's also worth mentioning that they are also the team's top rebounders. In addition, Brooklyn's two best big men (and third and fourth leading rebounders) in Aldridge and Nic Claxton are also sidelined today.

That should mean plenty of boards for a Boston frontcourt featuring Robert Williams III and Al Horford. The Over/Under on Williams rebounds is set at 9.5, a number he has actually gone below in three of his last four.

However, Horford's rebounds total is set at just 6.5. With Horford averaging 7.5 rebounds per game and pulling down at least nine boards in four-straight contests, hammer the Over.

Pick: Horford Over 6.5 rebounds (-115)

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