NBA Wednesday Tips: Celtics shoot for the stars despite recent misfiring

The Boston Celtic, who boast the best record in the NBA, will look to hold Brooklyn at bay on Wednesday night. Basketball expert Mark Woods previews all of the action.

Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics

Tipoff: 12.30am Thursday GMT 

Joe Mazzulla is going to the All Star Game. But, even with the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference guaranteed ahead of the selection deadline for the showpiece, he is still only the interim head coach of the Boston Celtics. Go figure. 

Mazzulla could hardly be doing more to earn a permanent appointment. The C’s possess the league’s best record at 36-15 headed into Wednesday’s divisional duel with Brooklyn and are the only team to sit in the top four in offensive and defensive rankings.

All that, despite last week’s three-loss streak that could, and should, have been four if not for a botched officiating call against the Los Angeles Lakers. Having won their previous nine games before the slump, Boston has hit a wall defensively and have averaged just 102 points over its past four. 

That is enough to offer a glimmer of hope for the Nets to deliver victory on generous odds of 3.85, despite the absence of Kevin Durant. His team has gone 4-6 during his injury-enforced hiatus, putting up 114.5 per night on a slim points differential of -0.7. The Nets are, however, +3.2 in the fourth quarter, so the spread there with Brooklyn +1 at 1.93 is worth a look.

Kevin Durant: Still out injured for the Brooklyn Nets

Yet, the most recent meeting between these two offers a glimpse of what might occur. The Celtics, 2-0 up in the season series, won 109-98 in Brooklyn two weeks ago when finishing strongly. Mazzulla’s men have gone 6-1 against other Atlantic Division teams and are 21-7 against .500+ opponents. 

As much as Boston has the air of vulnerability and their scoring stutter makes the Nets intriguing on a handicap of +6 (2.32), there is a good reason that the stellar C’s have moved clear as NBA Championship favourites at 5.1. But I’d be more tempted to take the under rather than delve into the point spread market. 

Prediction: Under 225 total points @ 2.04 

Golden State Warriors @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Tipoff: 1am Thursday GMT

The champs have woken again, but does it spell danger for the rest of the NBA? The Warriors take a three-game winning streak to face the up-and-down Timberwolves, an upswing in which Golden State has scored 126.3 points per and conceded 119 – tallies 8.5 and -1 away from the seasonal averages to date – which is why they are 1.67 to extend this unbeaten run. 

Their previous title runs were built on defence, despite highlight-reel offences. This still feels like a sticking plaster, rather than a cure. The markets only give the Dubs a 10.64% chance of retaining their championship, largely due to a road record that is a miserable 7-18. 

Minnesota, 18-11 at home, has won three out of four that includes solid victories over Memphis, Sacramento and New Orleans (plus a revenge loss to the Kings). They’re 26-25 when rivals put over 100 on the board. That suggests they have a puncher's chance to KO the Warriors with below 238 total points another possibility. 

Prediction: Timberwolves to win @ 2.12

Atlanta Hawks @ Phoenix Suns

Tipoff: 3am Thursday GMT 

The Suns have found a way to win again and propel themselves towards a spot in the NBA Western Conference playoffs. Six victories out of seven have come while holding their foes to an average of 107 points per contest.

The Hawks - a model of inconsistency - are a mere 12-15 on the road and 1-4 in a stretch that has seen them defeated by other mediocre teams. Phoenix, surely, will keep rising.

Prediction: Suns -3 @ 2.06

NBA Wednesday Tips 

Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics: Under 225 total points @ 2.04
Golden State Warriors @ Minnesota Timberwolves: Timberwolves to win @ 2.12
Atlanta Hawks @ Phoenix Suns: Suns -3 @ 2.06