Suns vs. Celtics Betting Prediction
New Year’s Eve Day NBA action tips off early, as the Celtics host the Suns at 1:00 p.m. ET. With Phoenix laying 4.5 points as a road favorite and the total sitting at 215, what’s the best play on the board when it comes to this matchup?
Game Snapshot
527 Phoenix Suns (-4.5) at 528 Boston Celtics (+4.5); o/u 215
1:00 p.m. ET, Friday, December 31, 2021
TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: N/A
Phoenix Suns DFS Spin
Elfrid Payton has exited the league’s health and safety protocols. Payton’s case is a bizarre one, as he entered protocols on December 26 and apparently tested out the following day. After re-entering on the 29th, he is now out of the league’s health and safety protocols. With the Suns being relatively healthy at the point guard position, Payton is unlikely to get much playing time if he’s available for Friday’s game against the Celtics.
Boston Celtics DFS Spin
Marcus Smart (right hand laceration) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Friday’s game against the Suns. Smart has missed Boston’s last two games due to the hand injury. His pending return will likely lead to Payton Pritchard being moved back to the second unit. Pritchard is worth holding onto, however, as the Celtics will once again be without Dennis Schroder (protocols).
Suns vs. Celtics NBA Betting Prediction
The Suns are 18-6 against the spread in their last 24 games versus the Celtics and have covered in eight of their last 10 games in Boston. They’re also 5-1 against the spread in their last six games versus a team with a losing straight up record and are 11-5 against the number in their last 16 games following an ATS win. On the other side, the Celtics are 4-9-1 against the spread in their last 14 games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600 and 1-4 against the number in their last five games playing on one day of rest.
NBA BETTING PREDICTION: PHOENIX SUNS -4.5