Boston Celtics vs Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

At 3:30 ET, the Thunder (-125) will host the Celtics (+106) in a non-conference matchup. Oklahoma City (-2) is favored and has won 14 straight games. Boston (26-9) is on a three-game winning streak and is 2nd in the Eastern Conference.

This game will be played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The over/under line is 221.5, and NBCS will have the TV coverage.

BOSTON CELTICS VS OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER BETTING PICK

The Pick: Boston Celtics +2

This game will be played at Paycom Center at 3:30 ET on Sunday, January 5th.

WHY BET THE BOSTON CELTICS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 141-108 in favor of the Celtics.
  • Our projections have Jayson Tatum finishing with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Celtics finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.2% and knocking down 20 threes.

Can the Celtics Pull the Upset on the Road?

The Celtics improved to 26-9 on the season with a 109-86 road win over the Rockets on Friday. Boston, favored by 3.5 points, covered the spread with a +23 point margin. The total score of 195 points fell well short of the 220.5-point O/U line.

A key moment in the game was Boston’s 10-0 run, which extended their lead from 15-14 to 25-14. After leading 82-72 going into the 4th quarter, the Celtics held the Rockets to just 14 points in the final period while scoring 27 of their own.

The Celtics shot 50.6% from the field and knocked down 19 threes at a 48.7% clip in their win over the Rockets. Derrick White led the way with 23 points, hitting 6 threes, while Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum each added 20 points, with Pritchard shooting 80% from the field and making 4 threes at 66.7%.

Pritchard and Tatum each scored 10 points in the 1st quarter, while Jrue Holiday added 12 of his 14 points in the opening period. White scored 6 points in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters, while Tatum added 10 points in the 2nd.

After a rough start, the Celtics tightened up defensively, allowing just 55 points over the final three quarters to beat the Rockets. Boston gave up 31 points in the 1st quarter but held Houston to 25 in the 2nd, 16 in the 3rd, and just 14 in the 4th.

Overall, the Celtics held the Rockets to 36% shooting, including 27% from three-point range, with Houston hitting just 10 threes. The Rockets also went 12/12 from the free-throw line. Boston finished with 6 steals and 8 blocked shots.

Can the Thunder Offense Score Enough at Home?

The Thunder improved to 29-5 on the season with a 117-107 win over the Knicks on Friday. Playing at home, Oklahoma City covered the spread as 4-point favorites. The game’s total points of 224 came in just under the 224.5-point line.

After falling behind 88-80 going into the 4th quarter, the Thunder dominated the final period, outscoring the Knicks 37-19. A key 10-0 run earlier in the game helped Oklahoma City close the gap from 66-54 to 66-64.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a win over the Knicks, scoring 33 points and adding 7 assists. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins added 19, shooting 77.8% from the field and hitting 4 threes at 66.7% efficiency.

Oklahoma City shot 51.2% from the field and 51.9% from beyond the arc, connecting on 14 threes. Wiggins scored 15 of his 19 points in the 4th quarter, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 8 points in the final period.

The Thunder’s defense tightened up in the 2nd half, allowing just 41 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters to secure a win over the Knicks. Despite giving up 66 points in the 1st half, Oklahoma City held New York to 22 points in the 3rd and just 19 in the 4th.

Oklahoma City did a great job defending the three, holding the Knicks to just 9 made threes on 28% shooting. The Thunder also sent New York to the line 17 times, where they made 12 free throws. Defensively, the Thunder recorded 9 steals and 7 blocks.