The new week in the NBA starts with this conference tilt in North Carolina as a part of a nine-game slate, so make sure you read the best Celtics vs. Hornets betting pick and odds.

Boston is searching for the seventh consecutive victory when they visit Charlotte at Spectrum Center. The Celtics are -8.5 favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 231.5 points. These conference rivals will meet for the third time this year and the second in three days. The Celtics won both H2Hs.

Celtics didn’t have problems with the Hornets

The Boston Celtics (32-12, 24-19-1 ATS) are on a six-game winning streak after defeating the Charlotte Hornets 122-106 on the road in the first of back-to-back H2H duels. The hosts stood firm in the opening half and actually had a slight lead at the interval, but the Celtics switched to a higher gear in the second 24 minutes and deservedly secured a victory. Boston made 19 three-pointers opposite Charlotte’s eight and dominated in assists (35-21) and steals (8-2).

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Malcolm Brogdon followed him with 30 points, Al Horford added 16 points, seven boards, six dishes, and two steals, while Marcus Smart posted a double-double of 13 points and game-high 12 dimes with a couple of thefts.

SF Danilo Gallinari (ACL) and SF Jaylen Brown (leg) are out indefinitely. PG Derrick White (neck) is questionable to play on Monday against Charlotte.

Hornets couldn’t do much in the second half against the C’s

The Charlotte Hornets (11-33, 18-23-3 ATS) suffered their fourth loss in a row and ninth in 11 games as they lost to the Boston Celtics 122-106 at home. The Hornets played well in the first half and had a four-point lead but scored just 40 points in the second half, which wasn’t enough to come close to the Celtics, let alone upset them. The visitors were better in pretty much every segment and Charlotte really didn’t have a chance.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 31 points, team-high nine assists, seven rebounds, and five turnovers. Terry Rozier had 21 points and four boards, P.J. Washington had 14 points and four dimes, while Mason Plumlee chipped in nine points and game-high 16 boards.

SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) is out indefinitely. SF Gordon Hayward (hamstring) is questionable to face the Celtics on Monday.

Trends:

Boston:

  • 10-4 ATS in the last 14 games following an ATS win
  • 11-4 ATS in the last 15 games following a straight-up win of more than ten points

Hornets:

  • 2-6 ATS in the last eight games overall
  • 0-4 ATS in the last four home games

Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets Pick

Boston has the second-best offense in the NBA that averages 118.5 points per game, while Charlotte is scoring 112.0 ppg. The Celtics are also better defensively as they allow 112.2 points per contest opposite the Hornets’ 118.7 ppg. Even without Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are a far more serious team than the Hornets, who do miss Oubre Jr. and Hayward, two of their top-five scorers. Ball and Rozier cannot cope with Boston’s solid defense and Charlotte definitely cannot outscore the Celtics, so I expect another easy victory for the C’s in Charlotte.

Pick: Take the Celtics at -7.5 (-120)

The Total

The Hornets have the third-worst defense in the NBA and are the worst when it comes to offensive rating with 109.6 points per 100 possessions. Charlotte allowed 121+ points in six of the previous eight games, including the one against Boston, and I am backing the visitors to have another 120+ point display on Monday. The Hornets will contribute enough to make a high-scoring affair; we need around 110 points from them and they’ll deliver. Over is 11-2-2 in the Celtics’ last 15 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, while Over is 7-3 in the Hornets’ previous ten games following a straight-up loss of more than ten points.

Pick: Go Over 229.5 points (-130)