Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Betting Pick & Prediction 3/18/25
At 7:30 ET, the Brooklyn Nets (+606) will travel to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics (-921). Boston is currently on a two-game win streak and is favored by 13.5 points. The over/under line for this Eastern Atlantic division matchup is 215.5.
Brooklyn is 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-45, while the Celtics are 2nd in the East at 49-19. NBCS will have TV coverage for this game.
BROOKLYN NETS VS BOSTON CELTICS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Brooklyn Nets +13.5
This game will be played at TD Garden at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, March 18th.
WHY BET THE BROOKLYN NETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 116-114 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 46.1% and knocking down 19 threes.
Does Brooklyn Have a Shot at a Road Win?
The Nets improved to 23-45 on the season with a 122-114 win over the Hawks on Sunday. Brooklyn, who were +6.5 point underdogs at home, not only got the win but also covered the spread. The game’s total score of 236 points went over the pre-game line of 227.5.
After a strong 1st quarter, the Nets fell behind when the Hawks went on a 10-0 run. However, Brooklyn responded by outscoring Atlanta 35-30 in the 3rd quarter and 31-22 in the 4th to seal the win.
The Nets connected on 17 threes at a 48.6% clip in their win over the Hawks, finishing with a 47.8% overall shooting percentage. Cameron Johnson led the way with 28 points, hitting 4 threes at 50% efficiency, while Keon Johnson also knocked down 4 threes, contributing 22 points.
Tyrese Martin added 16 points, hitting 3 threes, and was a key factor in the 3rd quarter, scoring 11 points. Cameron Johnson had 10 points in the 4th quarter, and Keon Johnson added 12 points in the 3rd.
Despite giving up 114 points, the Nets’ defense came up big in the 4th quarter, allowing just 22 points to help secure the win over the Hawks. Brooklyn struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 35 points, but managed to tighten things up when it mattered most.
The Nets did a solid job defending the three-point line, holding Atlanta to just 29% shooting from deep with 11 made threes. Brooklyn also recorded 7 steals and 5 blocks in the game.
Can Boston Deliver Being Favored at Home?
Boston improved to 49-19 this season with a 115-113 win over the Nets on Saturday. The Celtics were favored by 11 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 228, going over the 218.5 O/U line.
Boston built a lead by winning the 2nd quarter 33-24, but the Nets fought back, winning the 3rd quarter 30-23 and the 4th quarter 32-29. The Celtics held an 86-81 lead going into the final period.
In their win over the Nets, the Celtics shot 52.4% from the field, with their three-point shooting at 34.2%, making 13 threes. Kristaps Porzingis led the team with 24 points, while Payton Pritchard added 22, hitting 5 threes at 62.5% efficiency.
Porzingis scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, and Pritchard added 9 in the final period. Jayson Tatum contributed 11 of his 20 points in the 1st quarter.
Defensively, the Celtics gave up 113 points to the Nets but still managed to secure the win. Their best defensive effort came in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed 24 points, while their toughest stretch was the 4th quarter, giving up 32 points. Overall, the Celtics allowed the Nets to shoot 46% from the field.
Boston struggled to contain Brooklyn from beyond the arc, as the Nets hit 20 threes at a 43% clip. The Celtics sent the Nets to the line 13 times, where they made 9 free throws. Boston finished with 25 defensive rebounds, allowed 18 offensive boards, and recorded 5 steals and 7 blocks.