The Atlanta Hawks welcome the Boston Celtics to State Farm Arena for an Eastern Conference matchup on Wednesday. Atlanta (6-9) enters on a two-game winning streak, while Boston (7-7) has won three of its last four games. De’Andre Hunter (wrist) and Onyeka Okongwu (shoulder) are out for the Hawks, with Jaylen Brown (hamstring) out for the Celtics.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Hawks as five-point favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 216 in the latest Celtics vs. Hawks odds. Before you make any Hawks vs. Celtics picks or NBA predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $900 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 113-75 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in on Celtics vs. Hawks and released its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines and trends for Celtics vs. Hawks:
- Celtics vs. Hawks spread: Hawks -5
- Celtics vs. Hawks over-under: 216 points
- Celtics vs. Hawks money line: Hawks -200, Celtics +170
- BOS: The Celtics are 8-5-1 against the spread in the last 14 games
- ATL: The Hawks are 5-10 against the spread in the last 15 games
Featured Game | Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston is keyed by Jayson Tatum, with the talented forward averaging 23.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. The Celtics have potent shot creators up and down the roster, and Boston is converting 79.2 percent of attempts at the free throw line. This is also a favorable matchup for Boston’s offense, as the Hawks rank bottom five in the NBA in overall defensive efficiency and turnover creation rate.
On defense, the Celtics are playing at a high level, giving up only 1.04 points per possession. Boston is a top-eight team in shooting efficiency allowed, with top-five marks in assists allowed (20.9 per game), blocks (6.3 per game) and second-chance points allowed (10.9 per game). The Celtics are also solid in transition defense, giving up only 11.1 fast break points per game, and Boston walls off the paint in allowing only 44.3 points per game in the paint.
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta’s offensive attack is headlined by Trae Young, who is one of the best shot creators in the NBA. The former All-Star point guard is putting up 25.5 points and 9.1 assists per game this season, and Young puts pressure on the opposition with deep shooting, crafty finishing and elite-level passing acumen. As a team, the Hawks are finding their stride offensively, scoring 1.25 points per possession in the last two games.
For the season, Atlanta is connecting on 36.6 percent of 3-point attempts, No. 6 in the NBA, and the Hawks are one of the best teams in the NBA when it comes to ball security, turning the ball over only 12.7 times per game. On defense, the Hawks have not been dominant this season, but Boston is just No. 24 in the NBA in offensive rating, scoring 104.6 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics are also missing a key piece in Brown, giving the Hawks a perceived talent edge overall.
How to make Celtics vs. Hawks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 208 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model’s Hawks vs. Celtics picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Hawks spread you need to jump on Wednesday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
