Houston Rockets vs Boston Celtics Preview
At 7:00 ET, the 1st place Celtics (-517) will travel to Houston to take on the 11th place Rockets (+391). The over/under line for this non-conference matchup is set at 228.
This game will be shown on NBCS and will be played at the Toyota Center.
Check out BetCoco for Houston Rockets – Boston Celtics odds
Houston Rockets vs Boston Celtics Head-to-Head and Key Stats
Over their previous five games against the Rockets, the Celtics have put together a record of 4-1. In the last five head to head games between the Celtics and Rockets, the average combined point total is 221 points per game. The over/under record in these matchups is 1-4.
- In their last five games away from home, the Celtics have a straight up record of 2-3 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 115 points per game in these contests.
- Across their five previous home games, Houston has an ATS mark of 0-5. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-4 while averaging 110 points per game.
- Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Rockets have a straight up record of 2-8. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-8.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Celtics have gone 6-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 7-3.
Houston Rockets vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Today, the Celtics are favored by 10.5 points against the Rockets. This season, Boston has been favored in 39 of their 42 games and has a 30-9 record as the favorite. Their ATS record as the favorite is 18-19.
In non-conference games, the Celtics are 9-4 compared to going 23-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. Overall, they have a record of 32-10, which is the best in the East.
On the road, the Celtics are 12-9 straight-up and 8-12 ATS. In their games away from home, they have an average scoring margin of +4.6 points per game.
Boston’s most recent game was a 102-100 loss to the Nuggets. The O/U line for that game was 234.5, and the Celtics were favored by 7.5 points going into the game.
This season, the Celtics have an O/U record of 22-20, and the under has hit in their last three games. On average, their games have finished with 231.1 points per game, and today’s O/U line is set at 228.
When it comes to scoring, the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league this season. They are averaging 120.4 points per game, which is 4th in the NBA. However, they have been slightly better at home, where they are averaging 122.9 points per game compared to 118.0 on the road.
One of the reasons for the Celtics’ success on offense has been their three-point shooting. They lead the league in three-pointers made per game at 16.2 and are hitting 38% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Overall, they are shooting 47% from the field, which is 13th in the NBA.
When it comes to getting to the free-throw line, the Celtics are averaging 22.6 attempts per game, which is 17th in the league. In terms of pace, they are 19th at 98.6 possessions per game.
This season, the Celtics’ defense is the 4th ranked defense in the NBA at 4th PPG. So far, they have held opposing offenses below the NBA scoring average in 69.0% of their games. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Celtics defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 52.1% while allowing 34.9% from downtown.
In their last game, the Rockets were favored by 2.5 points and won by one point, defeating the Jazz by a score of 127-126. The O/U line for that game was 235.5.
As the underdog, the Rockets have lost their last five games against the spread. This season, they are 9-19 as the underdog and 12-15 ATS overall. On average, they have gone 3.2 points per game worse than the spread as the underdog.
On average, Rockets games have finished with 224.7 points per game, which is lower than today’s O/U line of 228. This season, 33 of their games have had lower O/U lines than 228.
In Western Conference play, the Rockets are 15-10 and are currently in 11th place. In the Southwest Division, they are in 3rd place with a record of 20-21.
This year, the Rockets have an ATS record of 21-19, including going 15-7 ATS at home. Their straight-up record at home is 16-6.
When playing at home, the Rockets are averaging 114.3 points per game, which is 22nd in the league. Overall, they are 22nd in scoring at 112.6 points per game. In terms of pace, Houston is 17th in the NBA at 98.7 possessions per game.
This season, the Rockets have outscored the league average in just 39% of their games. In terms of field goal percentage, Houston is shooting 46% from the field, which is 25th in the NBA. From beyond the arc, they are 26th in three-point shooting at 35%.
So far this season, the Rockets have made an average of 12.1 three-pointers per game, which is 21st in the league. In terms of assists, Houston is 24th in the NBA at 24.7 per game. When it comes to offensive rebounds, the Rockets are 18th in the league.
This season, the Rockets’ defense is the 11th ranked defense in the NBA at 11th PPG. So far, they have held opposing offenses below the NBA scoring average in 56.1% of their games. Houston struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Jazz, giving up 23. For the game, Utah scored 126 points in the game.
With a 10.5-point advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Celtics to secure a 118-115 victory.
Houston Rockets vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips
- Take the Celtics on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Rockets (+10.5)
- Projecting a combined 233 points, we like the over
Houston Rockets Injury Report
- Victor Oladipo – Knee – Out
- Reggie Bullock – Back – Questionable
- Tari Eason – Leg – Out
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Jrue Holiday – Elbow – Questionable
- Al Horford – Rest – Questionable
