557 Rockets (+1.5) over Celtics
This is gonna be a great matchup as both teams are coming in with 2 days of rest and both teams are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. The dynamic duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook is shaping up to be the best duo in the league and since the trade deadline the Rockets are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in games Westbrook has played in with big wins vs the Lakers, Jazz and already beating the Celtics and their “small ball lineup” has the best net rating of any starting 5 unit at +23.7 (Tucker, Harden, House Jr., Covington and Westbrook). They’ve also added some great pieces to the bench that fit their style of play in Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll. The difference maker I think in this game will be the Celtics being without their all star point guard in Kemba Walker. He hasn’t had a big impact in the advanced stats but he still does average over 20 PPG and improves the depth of their roster when he plays. They’ve won some games without him but in matchups like this you need players like Kemba healthy and playing well and the last game Jayson Tatum struggled in before he put together this stretch of great games he’s on was against the Rockets. The Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs teams with a winning percentage of 60% or better