Battle in the Bay Area
Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors Betting Preview: The Boston Celtics (10-8) travel to the Bay Area to take on the Golden State Warriors (11-9) on Tuesday night. Both of these teams had high expectations coming into the season, but have had the odds stacked against them. The Warriors thought that they were going to begin a new era opening up the Chase Center, but things got a whole lot more difficult when guard Klay Thompson went down with a torn Achilles working out this offseason.
Covid-19 in the NBA
The Celtics have battled a much more uncommon challenge that seems to be nearly impossible to control…Covid 19. Boston had been challenged by a major Covid-19 breakout just weeks ago that made filling a starting lineup a challenge. Thankfully the Celtics were able to take this challenge in stride and players are back on the court.
Warriors Last Game
The Warriors defeated the Detroit Pistons 118-91. Golden State simply had more offense than the Pistons on Saturday. Dub nation got a lead early in the game and coasted to a big win. The Warriors definitely need to begin building off the previous game and stringing together multiple wins in a row. Golden State currently sits in the eighth seed just ahead of the Spurs and the now James Harden-less Rockets.
Celtics Last Game
The defending champion Lakers defeated the Celtics 96-95. Boston hung with the Lakers for four quarters in a back to back very close loss on Saturday night. Jayson Tatum (30 points) and Jaylen Brown (28 points) continued to lead the Celtics offense as a major reason they kept this game close. In the final seconds of the game after a missed shot Boston was in transition leading to a Kemba Walker missed a mid-range jumper and follow up by Daniel Theis at the buzzer.
No doubt the Boston Celtics continue to be a contender in the East. Sitting as the fifth seed right now the Celtics are a much better team than their record shows and they proved this by hanging with the lakers until the bitter end.
Home Cooking
The Warriors have a record of 8-4 at home compared to the Celtics who are 5-5 on the road. Golden State definitely prefers to play at home and has seen more success in the Bay.
MORE FROM KNUP SPORTS: Missing Kobe
Key Matchups
Two of the most electric college point guards faceoff Tuesday night in a primetime matchup between Kemba Walker and Stephen Curry. Although Walker does not have the role he once had on the Hornets, Walker is still an above-average point guard averaging 14.3 ppg. Golden State definitely has the edge in this matchup as Curry is still an elite point guard even though he is coming off an injury last season. Curry leads the Warriors with 27.7 ppg and is shooting 40.8% from beyond the arc.
Jayson Tatum has been one of the most explosive offensive scorers this season averaging 26.8 ppg. Tatum’s counterpart Jaylen Brown leads all Celtics with 27.1 ppg. Golden State will have their hands full guarding Tatum and Brown having defender Klay Thompson sidelined with an injury.
Key Injuries:
Celtics
Marcus Smart – Out (calf)
Warriors
Klay Thompson – Out for season (achilles)
Kelly Oubre Jr. – Out (knee)
Early Odds via William Hill NJ
Celtics -2.5 (-110) Moneyline (-140) O/U 224.5
Warriors ( +2.5) (-110) Moneyline (+125) O/U 224.5
Prediction: Celtics -2.5
Without Klay Thompson, the Warriors go from a contender to an average basketball team. Given that and the challenges, Boston has faced this season they are much better than their record shows. Boston has different players that can score in a bunch of ways and Tatum and Brown are two of the best at their positions this year. Celtics spread -2.5.
