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Expert prediction

Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder Preview, Odds, Prediction (Jan 5)

  • Nikola Velickovic
  • Jan 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM EST
  • Celtics vs. Thunder game opens Sunday’s NBA program.
  • Both the Cs and OKC are among the top favorites for winning the NBA title.
  • Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are both in NBA MVP talks.

The NBA champions, Boston Celtics, visit the No.1 seed in the Western Conference, the OKC Thunder. This should be a very exciting game between two fluid and hard teams that know how to both attack and defend.

How To Watch

  • When: Sunday, January 5, 3:30 pm ET
  • Where: Paycome Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • How To Watch: NBA TV

NBA Regular Season Odds

TeamOddsSpreadTotals
Boston Celtics +110+1.5223.5
OKC Thunder-130-1.5223.5

Game Preview

The Boston Celtics ride a three-game winning streak right now, with the previous two events taking place on the road. After beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in Target Center 118-115, they were better than their former head coach, Ime Udoka, and the Rockets in Houston, 109-86.

The Celtics have the fourth-best offense in the league, with 119.6 points scored per game. But they also have a tremendous defense when needed, and we saw that in Houston. That’s why their points differential is +10.5, meaning they beat the rivals by a double-digit margin.

When mentioning the winning margin, OKC has the highest one in the NBA, 12.1 buckets. Mark Daigneault’s boys have the No.1 defense in the NBA, with 103.3 points allowed. On the other side, they score 115.4 points.

In their last game, the Thunder ended the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak and extended their own stretch to 14 triumphs in a row.

Celtics vs. Thunder Head-to-Head

This is the first game in the current campaign between the two units.

Celtics vs. Thunder Prediction

The line for this event is set at 223.5 points, which is too high. OKC has the league’s best defense, and the Cs know how to become rigid in situations like these. That’s why we bet on the under here.

  • Free NBA Pick: Under 223.5 points

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