A heavyweight showdown looms on the horizon in Sunday’s Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder clash. The defending champion Celtics enter the game as the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, while the Thunder, atop the Western Conference, are riding a franchise-record 14-game winning streak.
Here’s a detailed preview of the Boston Celtics vs OKC Thunder game, which is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma.
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Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder Prediction, Preview and Odds
Money line: Celtics (+105) vs. Thunder (-130)
Spread: Celtics +2 (-110) vs. Thunder +2 (+110)
Total (P/U): Celtics o221.5 (-110) vs. Thunder u221.5 (-110)
Editor’s note: Odds may change as the game approaches. The odds listed were consistent with information available at the time of writing.
Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder preview
This highly anticipated matchup brings together two dominant forces from their respective conferences.
The Celtics (26-9) enter the competition on a three-game winning streak, including two emphatic victories: a 54-point victory over the Toronto Raptors and a 23-point victory over the Houston Rockets. They have the second-best offense in the league, behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have the best record in the NBA.
Additionally, Boston has the third-best net rating, after the Thunder and Cavaliers, with the three teams being the only ones to maintain double-digit net ratings.
Meanwhile, the Thunder (29-5) recently put together a win over the New York Knicks, overcoming a 14-point deficit to earn a 117-107 victory and extend their winning streak to 14 games – a record franchise.
OKC’s success is due to the genius of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who delivered 33 points and seven assists in his last victory. The Thunder lead the league in net rating (12.1), thanks to their top-ranked defense (102.9 defensive rating), and remain undefeated against Eastern Conference opponents.
Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder planned starting lineup
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso (hip), Ajay Mitchell (toe), Chet Holmgren (hip) and Nikola Topic (ACL) are all out. Ousmane Dieng and Dillon Jones are out as they are assigned to the G League, while Branden Carlson is likely, also on G League assignment.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown is questionable due to a shoulder injury. JD Davidson, Drew Peterson, Baylor Schelerman and Anton Watson are all out as they are assigned to the G League.
Thunder
G- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G- Cason Wallace | F- Lu Dort. | F- Jalen Williams | C- Isaiah Hartenstein
Celtics
G- Derrick White | G- Jrue Holidays | F- Sam Hauser | F- Jayson Tatum | C- Kristaps Porzingis
Editor’s note: These are the planned lineups and could change depending on player availability.
Boston Celtics vs OKC Thunder Betting Props
- Jayson Tatum scoring over 25.5 points is -105 on DraftKings. Expect him to hit that target.
- Isaiah Hartenstein scoring over 11.5 points is -120 on FanDuel. Expect him to clarify that.
Boston Celtics vs. OKC Thunder prediction
This matchup should be a hotly contested battle. While the Celtics may be without Jaylen Brown and the Thunder will be missing key players Alex Caruso and rookie Ajay Mitchell, OKC’s depth and home-court advantage could prove decisive.
Expect the Thunder to pull out a close victory, with Jalen Williams chipping away at Boston’s defense. Although the Celtics’ defensive efforts may limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams has the potential to take charge and guide the Thunder to another impressive victory.
Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro
