Suns vs. Celtics Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA on NBATV, Today 4/4

A Suns vs. Celtics matchup is one that we see just twice per season, and if it feels like it’s one that you just saw, that’s because you did! These teams met just over a week ago, and it’s safe to say that it was a great night for Boston. As we prepare for their Friday night matchup on NBATV, we’ve got our Suns vs. Celtics predictions for you.
To add to the best bet from our Suns vs. Celtics picks, we’ll also share a guaranteed $55 Sleeper Fantasy promo code bonus with you!
Suns vs. Celtics Predictions For NBA On NBATV, 4/4
Let’s just cut right to the chase, Boston blew the doors off of Phoenix in that recent matchup, taking them down by 30 points. So, to no one’s surprise, the Suns vs. Celtics odds have Boston heavily favored, especially with this second meeting coming at TD Garden.
However, we did just see the Celtics’ nine-game winning streak snapped in a rough loss to the Miami Heat, which was one that saw Boston lose by 21 points at home! Is that a sign to come or will the Suns continue to fade out following their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks?
Well, considering that wasn’t their only loss recently, it’s difficult to see the Celtics getting blown out in back-to-back games. The more significant loss for Phoenix recently was the Kevin Durant injury, so just about all Suns vs. Celtics predictions will be favored in Boston’s direction. While we too expect a Celtics win, we’ll provide far more value than just that with our best bet.
Phoenix Suns: No KD, No Playoffs?
No matter how much has gone on with the Suns this season and how many discussions there are in terms of reasons for their disappointing season, there is still no bigger storyline than the Kevin Durant injury. His bum ankle this late into the year now has fans and analysts alike wondering if he should just call it a year.
That’s due to the fact that not only do the Suns find themselves miles away from a playoff spot, but they’re also sitting outside of the Play-In Tournament spots as well. The Kevin Durant injury also comes at an interesting time, as Phoenix was just planning on getting Bradley Beal back in the mix.
Boston Celtics: Done With The Regular Season?
Similarly, but from a very different perspective, the Celtics may also be looking ahead at this regular season being over. They recently had a similar situation with a Jayson Tatum injury, but rather than resting him until the playoffs, he missed just one game.
Their reasoning for being over the regular season is the fact that they’re not exactly within striking distance of the Cleveland Cavaliers, while also not being threatened by the New York Knicks. In other words, with the #2 seed imminent, perhaps the Celtics are also lacking some motivation right now.
Suns vs. Celtics Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
As already mentioned, and again, as you’d expect, the Suns vs. Celtics odds have Boston as heavy favorites tonight:
- Point Spread: Phoenix Suns +15 (-110) vs. Boston Celtics -15 (-110)
- Money Line: Phoenix Suns (+700) vs. Boston Celtics (-1100)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 228 (-110) vs. Under 228 (-110)
Suns vs. Celtics Best Bet: Jayson Tatum Over 3.5 Made Threes (1.91x Available At Sleeper Fantasy)
With Phoenix lacking Kevin Durant, who scored 30 points against Boston last week despite losing by 30, how could we possibly trust Phoenix? In the same breath, can we possibly sweat out a huge point spread for Boston to cover when they may be looking ahead to the playoffs?
Rather than dealing with either of those situations, the best bet from our Suns vs. Celtics predictions is going to focus on a player prop. Oh, and by the way, Jayson Tatum wasn’t even on the court for Boston’s 30-point win over Phoenix last week. Speaking of which, they were also without Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford against the Heat.
That certainly contributed to their nine-game winning streak being snapped, but even still, we’re going to focus on a player prop instead. As for the player, we’re going with the tried and true of Jayson Tatum, and as for the market, we’re focused on made three pointers.
It’s the shot that Boston has been relying on all season, and while teams can live AND die by the three, this matchup is perfect for them to thrive. Phoenix’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot the fifth-best three-point percentage this season, and with the volume that Jayson Tatum is chucking up, that’s great news.
Over the past month of games, Tatum has shot less than NINE threes in a game just three times. In that same span of 12 games, he’s shot double-digit threes in six of them, including a 6-for-16 three-point night. While he wasn’t on the court against Phoenix last week, in his two games against them last year, he made four and five threes.
With a much better matchup this time around, we love Jayson Tatum to go over 3.5 made threes as the best bet from our Suns vs. Celtics predictions, and you can find a ton of player stat projections at Sleeper Fantasy!
Suns vs. Celtics Injury Report & Starting Lineup
Of course, the biggest injury news for Suns vs. Celtics is the Kevin Durant ankle injury, so we know that he’ll be missing this game. As for other news, they have also been mentioned. Brady Beal is expected to be on this road trip, while the absences of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are not considered to be serious.
While some, if not all, of those three may be on the court tonight, until we get official news on that front, here are the expected Suns vs. Celtics lineups for today:
PHX Suns:
BOS Celtics:
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Player News
Dorian Finney-Smith shot 6-of-9 from the field in Friday’s win over the Rockets, scoring 18 points with three steals and six three-pointers in 30 minutes.
Friday’s victory secured the three-seed in the West for the Lakers, which would mean a second-round matchup with Houston if both teams got out of the first round. For that reason, Finney-Smith’s last two performances against the Rockets were notable. After shooting 6-of-11 from three in the Lakers’ March 31 win over Houston, he was 6-of-8 on Friday. From a fantasy standpoint, Finney-Smith provided the three-pointers and steals on Friday that many managers expect from him. We’ll see if he plays against Portland on Sunday, as nothing will be on the line for the Lakers.
Austin Reaves tallied 23 points (9-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 33 minutes in Friday’s win over the Rockets.
Luka Doncic recorded 39 points (13-of-19 FGs, 8-of-14 FTs), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal and five three-pointers in 31 minutes in Friday’s win over the Rockets.
Reed Sheppard amassed 14 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and four three-pointers in 41 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.
Cam Whitmore shot 13-of-19 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Friday’s loss to the Lakers, scoring 34 points with eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and seven three-pointers in 37 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.
LeBron James (leg) finished Friday’s win over the Rockets with 14 points (6-of-11 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), four rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one three-pointer in 22 minutes.
James suffered an apparent left leg injury during the third quarter of Friday’s game, exiting with 7:27 remaining. He did not return, with some wondering if the 40-year-old tweaked the groin injury that sidelined him for seven games in mid-March. However, the heating pad applied to James’ leg appeared to be on his quad. Following the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Friday’s victory secured the three-seed in the West, so there’s no reason for James to play in Sunday’s game against the Trail Blazers. Expect plenty of Dalton Knecht after the rookie only logged four minutes against the Rockets.