by
β’ Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets
β’ Sunday, January 21 at 10PM ET
β’ Toyota Center in Houston Texas
One of the biggest takeaways from the first part of the 2023-24 NBA season has been the sensational play of the Boston Celtics. The Eastern Conference powerhouse has the best record in the league and they hold the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. It really feels like nothing is going to be able to slow this team down this campaign. This weekend too, the Celtics should dominate the Rockets on Sunday night. Will Boston be able to post a memorable performance?
This game will take place in Houston, so fans at the Toyota Center will hope to make an impact. However, we just don’t see that happening. Boston has been on cruise control this season and they’re getting the job done on both ends of the floor. As of this writing, Boston is an impressive 31-9 on the year. In their last 10 games, the Celtics are 7-3 and they’re currently riding a two-game winning streak. Their confidence is through the roof.
| Rockets vs Celtics odds |  |  |  |
| Celtics to win | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Rockets to win | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Over 195 points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 195 points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
The same can’t be said for Houston, as they’ve struggled this year. The Rockets are 19-20 and in 11th place out West. Unless they start to improve, there’s a good chance that we won’t be seeing them in action once the postseason rolls around. That’s not something we have to worry about with Boston, as people are more focused on whether they’ll be able to go on a deep run in the playoffs or not. We have a feeling that they will (more on that below).
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, the Celtics hold -110 NBA betting odds for this one. Despite being the home side, the Rockets are the underdogs with their +125 betting odds. Boston has looked so sharp that we think they’re going to prove to be too dominant for the Rockets to handle. We’re no question going with the Celtics as our pick in this case.
Views from the 6 pic.twitter.com/geDzUI3d6x
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 16, 2024
The over should hit between the Rockets and Celtics
With how great Boston has looked on offense, we think the over should hit between the Rockets and Celtics when they meet on Sunday evening. Starting with the Celtics, you’ve got to bring up the play of Jayson Tatum. The sharpshooter is playing at an MVP level these days and he no question has played a role in the Celtics improving their NBA Finals betting odds from earlier in the campaign.
Membersπ€π½ pic.twitter.com/kuyp21H6AL
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) January 16, 2024
Tatum can knock down shots from all over the floor. On the year, he’s averaging an impressive 27.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. Boston has also been able to depend on the strong offensive play of Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Don’t forget about Jrue Holliday and Derrick White. All five of those players we just mentioned are scoring in double figures each night, which is great for Boston. Brown is battling an injury, but the hope is he can return soon.
As for the Rockets, they’re led in scoring by Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Fred VanFleet. All three of those playmakers have the ability to go off on any given night. This will be key for Houston against the Celtics, as Boston should come out hot from the opening tip. In order for the Celtics to not run away with things, Sengun, VanFleet and Green will all need to play at a high level in front of the hometown fans.
Per the oddsmakers, the over/under for this game has been set at 195 points. There’s no doubt in our mind that Boston will have a strong offensive showing and Houston will as well. While we do expect the Celtics to record a strong win, we think the Rockets will be able to keep things much closer than folks expect. With all of that said, we’re going to have to go with the over for Sunday’s tilt.
The Celtics and Nuggets hold the best title odds
With things continuing to heat up in the regular season, the Celtics and Nuggets hold the best title odds. Denver won the NBA Finals last season, which was a bit of a surprise. Now, though, the Western Conference side is hoping to repeat as champs and do so in a convincing fashion.
Let’s hold the phone on that, as Boston has the No. 1 NBA Finals betting odds, which has a lot of people talking. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has his team playing quality basketball and that’s going to stay the case until the spring gets here. If Boston can keep the No. 1 seed, it will make a huge difference for them. Home advantage throughout the postseason is what every team desires.
With Boston’s +290 betting odds to win the title, the fan base is excited about the squad’s potential for the rest of the season. Injuries haven’t been a major problem and Brown isn’t expected to be out much longer with his current issue. We can only hope that continues to be the case for him and other Celtics stars. If Boston can stay fully healthy, then there indeed is a strong chance they can take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
