Boston Celtics (32-10) vs. Houston Rockets (19-21)
January 21, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Rockets +10.5; Over/Under: +231
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets duke it out at the Toyota Center on Sunday night. Here’s a Celtics vs Rockets Prediction.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been in great form as they’ve won 12 of their last 16 games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after having their undefeated home record ruined by the Nuggets in a 102-100 loss on Friday. Derrick White led the team with 24 points and five assists, Jayson Tatum added 22 points with eight rebounds and five assists while Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 21 points. As a team, the Celtics shot 42 percent from the field and 14 of 44 from the 3-point line as they got off to a decent start to take an early 12-point lead and they stayed in front for most of the contest, but they never put the Nuggets away and it cost them as they scored just two points in the final 4:50 to allow the Nuggets to run them down in the end.
Boston Celtics Team Facts
- The Celtics have won each of their last 28 games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Celtics have covered the spread in each of their last six games against the Rockets following a loss.
- Six of the Celtics’ last seven road games against Southwest Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Houston Rockets
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been in a real funk as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall, but they will be feeling better after putting an end to a three-game skid with a 127-126 overtime win over the red-hot Jazz last night. Alperen Sengun led the team with 37 points, 14 rebounds and six assists on 15 of 26 shooting, Jabari Smith Jr added 24 points with 10 rebounds while Fred VanVleet chipped in with 18 points and seven assists. As a team, the Rockets shot 42 percent from the field and 13 of 39 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in trouble when they squandered a 17-point lead in regulation, before they survived another scare in overtime after missing two crucial free throws with 8.1 seconds left on the clock. The Rockets will meet the Trail Blazers after this game.
Houston Rockets Team Facts
- The Rockets have lost each of their last 15 games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents following a win.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games.
- Seven of the Rockets’ last eight games against the Celtics following a home win have gone UNDER the total points line.
Celtics vs Rockets Prediction
The Celtics could be shorthanded for this one as Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are both questionable, while the Rockets are still without Tari Eason and Reggie Bullock Jr. The Celtics were on fire before they fell painfully short to the Nuggets for their first home loss of the season, while the Rockets were really struggling before they snapped out of it with a much-needed win over the Jazz last night. Be sure to check the lineups before tipoff, but as it stands, I’m more comfortable taking a shorthanded Celtics team over a struggling Rockets team playing on zero days’ rest after an overtime game.
