Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 01/04/2024, 05:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 01/04/2024 at 05:58 in NBA Predictions

The Charlotte Hornets will play host to the Boston Celtics at the Spectrum Center in the NBA on Monday night. The hosts are 18-56 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 58-16 and lead the Conference standings. 

The Charlotte Hornets have struggled throughout the season and are now focused on finishing the remaining games before embarking on their rebuilding process for the next term. They will aim to break a two-game losing streak here following a decisive 130-118 loss to the Clippers last night. Miles Bridges showcased his shooting prowess by sinking seven 3-pointers and leading the team with 33 points on 11 of 20 shooting, while Brandon Miller contributed 22 points along with six rebounds and four assists. Charlotte has encountered difficulties on both offense and defense this season and currently sits as the second-lowest-ranked team in the division. They concede an average of 106.4 points per game, which is 3.1 points fewer than what the Celtics typically allow. Offensively, they score 3.6 more points per game at home (108.2) compared to on the road (104.6). Defensively, Charlotte allows an average of 116.9 points per game, ranking 22nd overall. The Hornets have five players listed on their injury report.

The Boston Celtics have already secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and are on track to clinch the number one overall seed in the NBA soon. On Saturday, they prevented what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the season by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 104-92. Jayson Tatum led the team with 23 points, while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots. The Celtics boast the second-highest scoring offense in the league, averaging 120.9 points per game, and tend to score more points at home compared to away games during the 2023-24 season (123.3 at home versus 118.7 on the road). Defensively, they have been solid, conceding just 109.5 points per game, which ranks fifth-best in the league. However, Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown may be unavailable for upcoming matches.