The Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics for a nationally televised clash on Tuesday evening at TD Garden. The Hawks are 29-31 overall, but Atlanta is 12-6 in its last 18 games. The Celtics are 36-27 overall and 20-11 in home tilts this season. Boston reports no injuries for Tuesday’s game. John Collins (foot) is doubtful for the Hawks, with Lou Williams (hip) ruled out.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET in Boston. The Celtics are listed as 6.5-point home favorites, while the Over-Under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 224.5 in the latest Hawks vs. Celtics odds. Before you make any Hawks vs. Celtics picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 71-44 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Hawks vs. Celtics, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Hawks vs. Celtics:
Hawks vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -6.5 Hawks vs. Celtics over-under: 224.5 points ATL: The Hawks are 18-19 against the spread in Eastern Conference games BOS: The Celtics are 20-21-1 against the spread in Eastern Conference games
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta’s offense is elite by any description. The Hawks are scoring 114.0 points per 100 possessions for the season, ranking No. 2 in the NBA. Atlanta leads the league in three-point accuracy at 37.7 percent, and the Hawks are also setting the pace in the NBA by committing only 12.3 turnovers per game. The Hawks are in the top six in field goal percentage (46.8 percent) and free throw percentage (80.4 percent), and generate 1.98 assists for every turnover, a top-five ratio.
The Hawks are above-average in free throw creation and assists (24.4 per game), and also have a couple of notable defensive strengths. Atlanta is in the top five of the NBA in free throw attempts allowed, giving up only 19.5 per game, and are also in the top five of the league in defensive rebound rate (73.8 percent) and second-chance points allowed (12.2 per game).
Why the Celtics can cover
The Celtics are playing fantastic basketball over the last two months. Since Jan. 1, Boston is 19-8 with the NBA’s best net rating, out-scoring opponents by nearly 12 points per 100 possessions. That includes a much-improved offense and the league’s best defense. Boston is scoring 113.9 points per 100 possessions since the calendar flipped to 2022, and the Hawks are in the bottom five in defensive efficiency, turnover creation, assists allowed, and steals.
On defense, the Celtics are No. 2 in the league for the season, allowing only 105.3 points per 100 possessions. Boston leads the NBA in field goal percentage allowed (43.0 percent), two-point percentage allowed (49.0 percent), and assists allowed (21.6 per game). The Celtics are No. 2 in the NBA in blocked shots and points allowed in the paint, with top-10 marks in free throw attempts allowed and fast break points allowed.
How to make Hawks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, with 12 players projected to score at least nine points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations.You can only see the model’s Celtics vs. Hawks pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Hawks vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Hawks vs. Celtics spread you need to jump on Tuesday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
