The Golden State Warriors take on the Boston Celtics for the second time this season on Saturday night. The Celtics won the first matchup 111-107 back at the beginning of February on a night where Jayson Tatum led the team with 27 points.
- Date/Time: April 17, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: TD Garden
- TV Coverage: ABC
- Sportsbook Odds: Celtics -3.5 | O/U 229 (Line History)
- Warriors vs Celtics (Matchup Report)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The game opened with the Celtics as favorites at -3.5 and the line has moved up to -4 across the board. The total opened at 229 and can be found at either 228.5 or 229 depending on the sportsbook.
Golden State News & Notes
The Golden State Warriors are sitting at .500 heading into Saturday with a 28-28 record, ninth in the Western Conference. While it has been a transitional year for the former NBA powerhouse, their top player has not taken any steps back.
Steph Curry is currently averaging 30.7 points per game, which would be the highest average of his illustrious career if it holds up. That total ranks Curry second in the league in points per game behind only Bradley Beal. Curry also ranks in the top 25 in assists per game. The two-time MVP had 38 points to lead both teams in the first matchup with Boston.
As a team, the Warriors rank in the middle of the pack in most offensive stats and poorly in most defensive ones. Golden State ranks 17th in field goals percentage, 12th in three-point percentage, and they rank second to last in rebounding percentage and 22nd in turnover percentage.
Boston News & Notes
The Boston Celtics have been overshadowed by a couple of other top teams in the Eastern Conference this season, but they are comfortably in the playoff picture and have won seven of their last 10 games, including five in a row.
Leading the charge for the Celtics is the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The pair is one of only two duos in the league (the other being Kyrie Irving and James Harden) who are both in the top 20 in league scoring.
The Celtics are also impressive when you dive into the advanced numbers. The team ranks 11th in offensive rating and 12th in defensive rating. The team is also 11th in the league in rebound percentage, buoyed by a third overall ranking in offensive rebound percentage.
The last time these teams played, the Celtics had five players in double digits in scoring including Jaylen Brown’s double-double. Look for the Celtics to spread the ball around and attack the Warriors’ weak defense with several different players.
Betting Pick: Celtics -4
The stats suggest that the Celtics are secretly one of the top teams in the league. Meanwhile, the same metrics show that the Warriors are about what we think they are. A completely average team with one superstar and poor defensive habits. We think the Celtics can beat that team, especially at home.
- Golden State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games.
- Golden State is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games against Boston.
- The UNDER is 8-2 in Boston's last 11 games.
