Celtics vs. Suns Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA on ESPN, Wednesday 3/26
After the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns were a part of the two late night games on Monday night, the two tip off against one another tonight. This time, it will be a featured matchup on ESPN as the second game of the doubleheader. You can get set for the interconference clash with our Celtics vs. Suns predictions below.
Beyond the best bet from our Celtics vs. Suns picks, we’ll also break down a huge $1,500 BetMGM Sportsbook welcome offer for you!
Celtics vs. Suns Predictions For NBA on ESPN, 3/26
The Celtics and Suns were both featured late night on Monday with Boston out in Sacramento taking on the Kings and Phoenix at home hosting the Milwaukee Bucks. That means that the Celtics are remaining on their road trip out west, but just like their game against the Kings, they’re still favored despite being far from TD Garden.
While the Celtics vs. Suns odds are quite unsurprising in that regard, Phoenix fans will still have to switch gears from rooting FOR Boston to against them tonight. They wanted them to beat the Kings - which they did - as the Suns and Kings are two of the three teams buying for the final Play-In Tournament spot (the Dallas Mavericks being the other).
Meanwhile, the Celtics are sitting comfortably in that #2 spot in the Eastern Conference. Will that lead to complacency, or will they still try and catch the Cleveland Cavaliers? That’s what the best bet from our Celtics vs. Suns predictions should help answer.
Boston Celtics: Shutting Down Jayson Tatum?
As mentioned, the Celtics came away with a win over the Kings on Monday night, and they did so with ease. While they were favored by just 4.5 points, which is nothing compared to what we often see with the defending champs, they went ahead and took down Sacramento by 18 points in front of the Kings home crowd.
More importantly than the W was the L they took when Jayson Tatum exited the game at the end of the third. Now there is talk of shutting him down until the playoffs given what we just noted above - the Celtics are all but locked into the #2 seed. It’s difficult to see them make that official, but being extremely overly cautious with the Jayson Tatum injury should be expected.
Phoenix Suns: Booker Beating The Bucks
Ok, it obviously wasn’t just Devin Booker that beat the Bucks on Monday night, but it was his shot that was the most memorable. The game was tied coming down the stretch, and after trading leads with under 30 seconds left, it was ultimately Booker’s made shot that gave the Suns the lead with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock.
It resulted in a 108-106 win, which was right on par with what oddsmakers expected - the Suns were favored by three points. Booker finished the game just three rebounds shy of a triple-double after posting 19 points and 12 assists, while Kevin Durant led the team in scoring with an impressive 38-point night.
Celtics vs. Suns Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Again, Boston being favored is no shock, and you can see the latest Celtics vs. Suns odds at BetMGM Sportsbook below:
- Point Spread: Boston Celtics -3.5 (-110) vs. Phoenix Suns +3.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Boston Celtics (-155) vs. Phoenix Suns (+130)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 223.5 (-110) vs. Under 223.5 (-110)
Celtics vs. Suns Best Bet: Under 223.5 Points (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
Rather than needing to worry about how the Celtics approach this final stretch of the season, the best bet from our Celtics vs. Suns predictions isn’t going to focus on the winner of this game. While the Celtics very well may be able to grab yet another road win without Jayson Tatum, we’re going to focus on a lower-scoring game.
Of course, the Jayson Tatum injury is the most obvious factor for that, but it isn’t just his absence that has us leaning this way. We’d love to have a previous matchup between these teams to reference, they interestingly enough have both of their meetings this season on the horizon.
However, Boston has been great for unders this season, especially as of late. Even more specifically, during this road trip out west. Not only did they just hold the Kings to just 95 points on Monday night, but they also began the trip holding the Utah Jazz to just 99 points. While the latter isn’t exactly tough competition, this trend began even earlier.
Heading into the trip, Boston held the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat to just 96 and 91 points, respectively. Let’s also not discount the Suns side of things. Along with the Jayson Tatum injury helping them, Phoenix did just hold Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to just 106 points.
If you’re inclined to pick a side for your Celtics vs. Suns picks, Phoenix has the second-worst ATS record this season, but as for the best bet from our Celtics vs. Suns predictions, we’re sticking with the under 223.5 points (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook).
Celtics vs. Suns Injury Report & Starting Lineups
As you’ll be seeing leading up to this matchup, the biggest injury news and overall headline is the Jayson Tatum injury. Even still, his ankle isn’t severe enough for fans to be worried about the playoffs. As for the Suns, we should see the return of Bradlewy Beal sooner rather than later with the team announcing a one-week revelation on St. Patrick’s Day.
As for starting lineups…
BOS Celtics:
- Jrue Holiday
- Derrick White
- Payton Pritchard
- Jaylen Brown
- Kristaps Porzingis
PHX Suns:
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Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.