NBA Odds Preview and Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors

Two teams at opposite poles meet Friday night as NBA leaders Boston Celtics take on cellar-dwelling Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. The Celtics will shoot for their 10^th straight victory while the Warriors will try to snap their five-game losing skid.

The curtains will be raised with Boston obviously favored to win at 1.29 (-345) money line, handicapped by eight points and expected to score 116 points with even prices on team total O/U market line. Golden State, offered at 3.70 (+270) game-winner underdogs, is given a 108 team total line.

The Warriors are horrible at home this season, winning only once in six games – a showing that produced the same result when they play on the road. Of course, being injury decimated does not help their cause. The home team carries the worst defensive rating in the league right now and the second-worst in giving up the most opponent’s points with 121.1 per game.

The visiting Celtics, on the other hand, are having a field day on most of the traditional and advanced statistical categories. Apart from holding the longest winning streak so far with nine, the scorching Brad Stevens-led squad is also at the top with the most efficient offensive rating, among the top 10 teams with most points scored per game with 116.7 and most assists with 24.7 per outing. They are also the number 1 team with the least number of errors per game, committing only 11.5 turnovers for every assignment.

To back this up in the betting perspective, the Celtics are instant cash when tagged as ML favorites, sweeping the odds 7-0. They are also automatic in covering the spread when they play the Dubs on the road, tallying a perfect 6-0 ATS over the last six times they played in the Bay Area. This might be the first time at the Chase, but that will not even matter.

Prediction:

Boston is loving buckets right now while Golden State is hitting the snooze bar on defense time and time again. At 224.5 total line, go OVER. We expect a blowout for the Celtics, 128-110.