Boston vs Houston Preview, Odds, and Betting Pick

The Boston Celtics (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) are just 1-6 SU and ATS over their last seven games after Sportsbook this season with two straight losses. The Celtics will try to make their way into the win column this Sunday night against the Houston Rockets (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS).

Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets

Date/Time: October 24, 7:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Toyota Center
TV Coverage: NBA TV
Sportsbook Odds: Celtics -4.5 | O/U 227 points (Line History)
Celtics vs Rockets Matchup Report

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Celtics opened as 4.5-point road favorites in Houston and have since been bet up slightly to Boston -5. The total opened at 227 points and bets on the UNDER quickly pushed the line down to 222.5 points. The OVER is 4-2 in Boston’s last six games.

Boston News & Notes

The Ime Udoka era in Boston is off to an 0-2 SU and ATS start after the team got blown out 115-83 as 7-point favorites at home against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Not much went right for the Celtics in the loss as the team shot only 39% from the floor and failed to have a single player score 20 points and Jayson Tatum topped the scoresheet with 18 points.

The Celtics ranked 11^th in the NBA in scoring defense last season allowing 111.2 points per game. So far this season Boston has allowed 116 points in regulation to the New York Knicks in their 138-134 season-Sportsbook loss in double overtime and 115 to the Raptors. It’s only two games, but Udoka will want to get the team’s defense back on track as quickly as possible.

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Houston News & Notes

The Rockets bounced back from a 124-106 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener with an impressive 124-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder as three-point home favorites on Friday night. Christian Wood hit four three-pointers and scored 31 points with 14 rebounds in the win. The 26-year-old center had a career year in 41 starts in 2020-21 with 21 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and will be looking to build on that effort this season.

Houston opened last season with a respectable 11-10 SU record before closing out the shortened campaign on a dismal 6-45 run over its last 51 games. The Rockets are projected to be one of the NBA’s worst teams again this year and will have their work cut out for them in this matchup against Boston.

Why Boston Will Cover

The Celtics aren’t expected to be as good as they have been in recent seasons, but this is still a talented group that figures to be much better than the first two games of the season would indicate. A weak Rockets team could be just what the doctor ordered for Boston to pick up a confidence-building win.

Why Houston Will Cover

Boston looked terrible on both sides of the court in its 115-83 loss to the Raptors. The Rockets showed some life down the stretch last season with a 5-1 ATS record over their last six games and could cover the spread if the Celtics are not at their best again on Sunday.