Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics Betting Pick & Prediction 3/8/25
The Lakers head to Boston to take on the Celtics in a non-conference matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 ET at TD Garden. The Celtics are favored by 7.5 points and have a moneyline of -264.
Los Angeles enters the game with a record of 40-21 and has won eight straight games. They are currently second in the Western Conference and first in the Pacific Division. As for the Celtics, they are 45-18 and have won three straight. They are second in the Eastern Conference and first in the Atlantic Division.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS BOSTON CELTICS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Boston Celtics -7.5
This game will be played at TD Garden at 8:30 ET on Saturday, March 8th.
WHY BET THE BOSTON CELTICS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 137-118 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 46.2% and knocking down 21 threes.
Do the Lakers Have What it Takes in Boston?
The Lakers improved to 40-21 on the season with a 113-109 win over the Knicks on Thursday. Playing at home, Los Angeles entered the game as -2.5 point favorites and covered the spread. The total score of 222 points fell short of the 231.5-point O/U line.
After taking a 31-27 lead in the 1st quarter, the Lakers were outscored 33-20 in the 2nd. They edged the Knicks 25-24 in the 3rd and entered the 4th quarter trailing 84-76. Los Angeles clamped down defensively in the final period, holding New York to just 15 points while scoring 23 to secure the win.
Luka Dončić and LeBron James powered the Lakers’ offense in their 113-109 win over the Knicks, with Dončić posting 32 points and 12 assists, and LeBron adding 31 points and 12 rebounds. Dončić hit 4 threes at 33.3%, while LeBron made 2 threes at 25%.
Gabe Vincent was perfect from deep, hitting 4 threes at 100% and finishing with 12 points, 9 of which came in the 4th quarter. The Lakers shot 42.7% from the field and 33.3% from three, making 14 threes overall.
The Lakers tightened up their defense in the 4th quarter, allowing just 15 points to help secure a 113-109 win over the Knicks. Overall, they gave up 109 points, with their toughest stretch in the 2nd quarter when they allowed 33 points. Still, they held New York to 39% shooting from the field.
Los Angeles did a great job defending the three-point line, as the Knicks made just 10 threes on 23% shooting. The Lakers also finished with 7 steals and 4 blocks in the game.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Celtics?
With a 123-105 win over the 76ers on Thursday, March 6th, the Celtics improved to 45-18 this season. Playing at home, Boston covered the -13.5 point spread, and the game’s total of 228 points went over the 217.5 line.
A key moment came early when the Celtics went on a 10-0 run, extending their lead from 25-19 to 35-19. Boston outscored Philadelphia 35-24 in the 1st quarter and 29-22 in the 2nd. They maintained their lead by matching the 76ers 33-33 in the 3rd and 26-26 in the 4th.
Jayson Tatum’s 35 points, including 18 in the 1st quarter and 15 in the 3rd, helped the Celtics to a 123-105 win over the 76ers. He hit 5 threes at 45.5% and shot 60.9% overall. Payton Pritchard added 19 points, with 8 coming in the 4th quarter, and made 4 threes at 50%.
The Celtics hit 19 threes at 39.6%, shooting 50.5% from the field. Baylor Scheierman contributed 15 points and 3 made threes, while Derrick White and Torrey Craig each scored 10 of their 12 points in a single quarter, with White doing so in the 1st and Craig in the 2nd.
The Celtics put together a strong defensive performance against the 76ers, allowing just 105 points in their win. They held Philadelphia to 24 points in the 1st quarter and 22 in the 2nd, with their only defensive hiccup coming in the 3rd, where they gave up 33 points. Boston tightened things up in the 4th, allowing 26 points.
Overall, the Celtics limited the 76ers to 42% shooting from the field. Philadelphia hit 15 threes at a 38% clip. Boston sent the 76ers to the line 12 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Celtics also recorded 8 steals and 6 blocks.