Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Preview
Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA
When: Monday, January 16, 2017 – 7:30 PM ET
Line: Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics – view all NBA lines
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Betting on the Charlotte Hornets (20-20)
The Hornets just keep on stinging themselves. This past Friday, they bowed to the young Sixers, 103-92, thanks to committing a season-high 19 turnovers and shooting a season-low 32.9 percent from the field. With the defeat, they have now lost four straight, and six of their last seven games.
Things aren’t looking good as well for this upcoming matchup. In their two meetings with the Celtics this season, they lost, scored below 100 points, and only shot a combined 36.1 percent.
That said, there are still a couple of reasons to make you trust the Hornets despite their struggles. For one, a handful of guys have proven that they can suddenly boom and provide buckets. Along with the 1-2 punch of Kemba Walker (22.9 PPG, 5.4 APG) and Nicolas Batum (15.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.7 APG), four guys average double digit points – Cody Zeller, Marvin Williams, Marco Belinelli, and Frank Kaminsky.
Their defense and ball handling can also be notable, as they have the ninth-best defensive efficiency in the league and commit the fewest turnovers per contest (12.1), which is why the 19 TOs against an unheralded Philly team was very uncharacteristic.
Charlotte has lost five straight games on the road (2-3 ATS).
Betting on the Boston Celtics (25-15)
With their thrilling 103-101 win over the Hawks on Friday the 13th, the Celtics continued their surge in the win column. They are now winners in 12 of their last 15 games.
It’s not a coincidence that their rise started when their All-Star guard, Isaiah Thomas, came back from missing time due to a groin injury. In that stretch, Thomas has been borderline unstoppable, averaging 31.3 PPG on 49.7-percent shooting. Further, his 9.9 PPG in the fourth quarter this season has been the most by any player since 1996 – yes, that meant that it included Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and everyone in between.
Through Thomas (28.2 PPG, 6.2 APG), Al Horford (15.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.9 APG), and Avery Bradley, (18 PPG, 7 RPG), the Celtics are ranking eighth in points (106.PPG), seventh in offensive efficiency, and third assists (24.9 APG). Horford, who is first among Centers in APG average and third in total assists, is arguably one of today’s most efficient passing big man.
The Celtics key concern for this game should be their mediocrity in boxing out people. They allow the fifth-most offensive rebounds per game (11.3) and will be facing a Hornets team that puts up 45.4 RPG (fifth overall) and are equipped with good size in the shaded lane.
Boston has won six straight games at home (4-2 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
The Celtics win, 118-110.
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