Trent Reinsmith
- What: Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
- Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
- Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: Bally Sports AZ, NBC Sports Boston, ESPN
Two of the top teams in the NBA face off tonight when the Boston Celtics travel to Footprint Center to meet the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics are the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 20-5 record. That record also makes them the top team in the league at this point in the 2022-23 NBA season. The Suns are only 3.5 games behind the Celtics with a record of 16-8. Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference.
This should be a very exciting Week 8 matchup, as the Celtics are 9-3 on the road and the Suns are 12-2 at home. Boston has not lost a road game since a November 21 defeat to the Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, Phoenix picked up their second home setback on Friday with a 122-121 loss to Houston.
Before we dive into the betting breakdown for tonight’s NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns picks – December 7, 2022
| Teams |  |  |
| Boston Celtics | -120 | -120 |
| Phoenix Suns | EVEN | +100 |
Boston Celtics breakdown
The Boston Celtics began the 2023 NBA season with three straight wins. The team then stumbled, going 1-3 in their next four outings. However, Boston enters tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors on a run that has seen the team go 16-2 since October 30. The Celtics enter tonight’s game coming off a 116-110 road win over the Toronto Raptors. Boston is 9-3 on the road in 2023.
Despite being without defensive standout Robert Williams III and off-season signing Danilo Gallinari, the Celtics are playing outstanding basketball. That’s not surprising when the team’s biggest stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are delivering. Tatum leads the team in points (30.8), rebounds (8.3), blocks (1.0) and minutes (37). Brown is contributing 26.7 points per game on 35.9 minutes, while Smart leads the team in assists (7.6) and steals (1.1), while putting up 12.1 points on 33.1 minutes per game.
The Celtics are one of the highest-scoring road teams this season, with an average of 115 points per game. As for the team’s defensive game on the road, Boston allows 110.3 points per game, which is near the best in the league.
Phoenix Suns breakdown
The Phoenix Suns started the 2022-23 NBA season with a 6-1 record. The team stumbled over the next two weeks and went 3-5. However, since November 20, Phoenix is on a 7-2 run. Those two losses came in the past week when they went 1-2, losing to the Houston Rockets at home and the Dallas Mavericks on the road. The setback against the Mavericks was the team’s most recent outing. They lost that contest 130-111.
Devin Booker leads the Suns in scoring (28.4) and assists (5.9). He also plays a healthy 35.8 points per game. Deandre Ayton is second on the Suns in points per game (17.1) He leads the team in rebounds with 9.6. Mikal Bridges is third in scoring on the club (16), but he leads the team in minutes (36.5) and steals.
Phoenix is a solid home team, averaging 117.7 points per game at the Footprint Center. The club is also strong defensively on their home court, limiting their opponents to 106.8 points per game.
Our pick
This should be an excellent game for NBA fans. With that being said, it’s a hard game to pick. The Suns have played excellent home basketball this season, but their 1-2 run heading into this matchup gives me pause, especially against a team that is as hot as the Boston Celtics. I think the best bet is to go with the hot team. With that, pick the Boston Celtics to beat the Phoenix Suns tonight.
Pick: Boston Celtics to beat the Phoenix Suns.
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