The Charlotte Hornets (16-15), 6.5-point underdogs, will travel to TD Garden to square off with the Boston Celtics (18-13). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 222 points and action gets underway at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 23, 2018.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds
In the Hornets’ last matchup, they comfortably covered the 4-point spread against the Detroit Pistons, 98-86. The Celtics, on the other hand, were beaten by the Milwaukee Bucks, 120-107, and were not able to cover as 2-point underdogs. The Charlotte game finished 38 points under the projected point total of 222, while the Boston game went 3.5 points over the projected point total of 223.5.
Charlotte played a nearly flawless game. They had a superb free throw rate of 0.267 (above their season average of 0.200) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.520 (below their season average of 0.522). Detroit recorded marks of 0.171 and 0.439, respectively, for those same stats. Boston, on the other hand, had a turnover percentage of 4.5 (better than their season average of 11.7). Jaylen Brown had a solid outing for Boston with 21 points and seven rebounds. Marvin Williams, meanwhile had a good game for Charlotte, contributing 24 points and six rebounds.
In their first matchup this season, Kemba Walker led the Hornets to a 117-112 victory. He was the game’s leading scorer with 43 points. The two teams combined to put up 229 points, which was over the projected point total of 217.5, and Charlotte covered as a 3.5-point underdog. Charlotte’s free throw rate was their biggest advantage over Boston. The Hornets had a rate of 0.180, while the Celtics posted a mark of 0.146.
Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when setting the O/U total of Hornets games, with 16 overs compared to 15 unders. Charlotte holds records of 16-15 straight up (SU) and 17-14 against the spread (ATS).
Vegas is known to place the total low when the Celtics are involved, as 58.1 percent of their games have ended over the O/U total. Additionally, Boston owns records of 18-13 SU and 15-16 ATS.
Boston figures to have the advantage on the defensive side of the ball. The Celtics currently rank third in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.503), while Charlotte is 16th in effective field goal percentage (0.522). Additionally, the Hornets rank first in turnover percentage (11.7 percent), while the Celtics rank third in opponents’ turnover percentage (15.5 percent).
Hornets vs. Celtics Free Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Celtics, ATS Winner – Hornets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Celtics rank 3 in steals allowed per game (6.967741935483871) while the Hornets rank 6 (7.096774193548387).
- Boston ranks second in blocks allowed per game (4.0) while Charlotte ranks 27th (6.8).
- The Celtics rank fifth in points allowed in the paint per game (44.4) while the Hornets rank 19th (49.2).
- Boston averages 15.6 fast-break points per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA. Charlotte ranks 17th in fast-break points allowed per game (13.9).
- Boston ranks 3 in points off turnovers per game (19.580645161290324) while Charlotte ranks 7 (18.516129032258064).
- The Celtics rank third in three pointers attempted per game (36.5) while the Hornets rank 24th in three pointers allowed per game (33.4).
- The Celtics rank 12 in rebounds per game (45.74193548387097) while the Hornets rank 22 in rebounds allowed per game (46.03225806451613).
- Boston ranks fifth in assists allowed per game (22.2) while Charlotte ranks 24th (25.4).
- When holding opponents below 100 points, Charlotte is 5-0 and Boston is 7-2.
- The Hornets are 15-14 when they score more than 100 points, while the Celtics are 18-10.
- Charlotte is 7-5 ATS on the road, while Boston is 8-6 ATS at home.
- The total has gone over in 6 of the Hornets’ 12 road games, while 8 of the Celtics’ 14 home games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Celtics are 2-3 ATS over their last five games, while the Hornets are 1-4.
- In their last five games, Boston has 4 overs and 1 under, while Charlotte has 3 unders and 2 overs.
- During their last five games, the Celtics have scored an average of 114.6 points per game (3.5 above their season average) and allowed an average of 115.4 points per game (10.6 above their season average).
- The Hornets have been outscored by an average of 1.2 points in their last five games. On the season, Charlotte has defeated opponents by an average of 2.6 points.
