BOSTON CELTICS VS.  OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER – ODDS & PREDICTIONS FOR JANUARY 2, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from Tuesday night’s slate features the Boston Celtics (26-6 SU, 16-14-2 ATS) taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder (22-9 SU, 22-8-1 ATS).

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

• When: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
  
• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  
• TV: BSOK and NBCS-BOS

Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Odds (via DraftKings)

Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

Boston Celtics Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 120.8 PPG – 6TH  
• Offensive Efficiency: 121.8 points per 100 possessions – 2nd   
• Scoring Defense: 110.2 PPG – 4TH   
• Defensive Efficiency: 111.2 points per 100 possessions – 3rd    

The Boston Celtics ended the 2022-23 campaign with a Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. Not only that, but that loss took place on their home floor. Despite the disappointing ending, this team has picked up where it left off last season.

“I think credit to the front office for constructing a team that fits together, and then credit to the coaching staff for making sure that we know where we’re supposed to be, making sure we see where the reads are supposed to be made, and making the game real clear for us,” Celtics star, Jaylen Brown said,  via CBS Sports. “I think the coaching has been excellent this year in making sure we see the game the way a game should be played.”

Boston has the best record in the league at 26-6. They have won nine of their last 10 games overall.  They enter this matchup riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak. This includes a 134-101 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics’ scoring attack with 25 points, six rebounds, and a pair of steals. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, six rebounds, and three assists.   

The Celtics will need to maintain their level of play if they hope to extend their winning streak against an Oklahoma City team that is coming off one of its better defensive performances of the season.

Oklahoma City Thunder Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 121.3 PPG – 4TH   
• Offensive Efficiency: 120.0 points per 100 possessions – 6TH    
• Scoring Defense: 112.7 PPG – 11TH    
• Defensive Efficiency: 111.5 points per 100 possessions –6TH   

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been playing some good basketball this season as well. With a record of 22-9, they have the second-best winning percentage in the Western Conference. 

The Thunder come into this matchup on the wave of a four-game winning streak. Not only that, but they have also posted wins in eight of their last 10 decisions. This includes a 124-108 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 24 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Josh Giddey contributed 20 points along with six rebounds, and five assists. The Thunder shot 54.2 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from 3-point range. At the other end of the court, OKC limited the Nets to just 38 percent shooting overall, including 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. 

Now, let us look at the all-important betting trends for both sides.

The Picks

The Spread

The Boston Celtics opened as a consensus 4.5-point favorite in this matchup. The line has dipped to three points for the road team. Here is a quick glimpse at how both teams have fared against the spread this season.

• The Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
• Boston is 0-5 ATS in their last five matchups against Oklahoma City.
• The Celtics are 0-6 ATS in their last six January games.
• The Thunder are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.  
• OKC is 8-1 ATS in its last nine matchups against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Thunder are 6-2 ATS in their last eight contests against Atlantic Division teams.

Based on the above trends, taking the home team to cover the spread is a wise choice.

Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder (+3)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 240 points. The line has moved to 240.5 points, with the “under” garnering 96 percent of the cash and the “over” taking 67 percent of the tickets (via pre-game.com). Here is a look at why going with the “OVER” is the smart choice here. 

• The total has gone OVER six times in the Celtics’ last seven contests.

• The OVER total has hit for Boston four times in its last five road games.

• In the Celtics’ last five games against Northwest Division teams, the OVER total has prevailed four times.

• The total has gone OVER for the Thunder four times in their last six outings.

• The OVER total is 5-0 in Oklahoma City’s last five games against Boston.

• In the Thunder’s last 14 Tuesday games, the OVER total prevailed 10 times

Prediction: OVER 240.5 points

Prop Bets

The key player to watch for the road team is Jayson Tatum. He currently has -125 odds of scoring 26.5 points and -105 odds of scoring less than 26.5 points. 

• In 11 career games against Oklahoma City, Tatum is averaging 24.2 points per contest. 
• On the season, he is averaging 26.9 points per outing.
• In 15 road games, Tatum is averaging 27.4 PPG.
• Tatum has played against Western Conference teams six times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 24.5 points per outing.
• Tatum has played in three Tuesday night games this season. In those outings, he is averaging just 13.5 PPG.
• During December – a sample size of 12 games – Tatum is averaging 20.3 PPG.

As the trends seem to indicate, going with the “under” for Tatum looks like the better choice here.

Prediction: Jayson Tatum UNDER 26.5 points

The key player to watch for the OKC Thunder is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He currently has -125 odds of scoring more than 32.5 points and -105 odds of finishing with less than 32.5 points. Here is a closer look at how his season splits stack up against his projected scoring total for this matchup. 

• In six career games against the Celtics, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 22 points per contest. 
• On the season, he is averaging 31.2 points per outing.
• In 17 home games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.6 PPG.
• Gilgeous-Alexander has played against Eastern Conference teams nine times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 33.4 PPG.
• The last three times he has played on a Tuesday, his points-per-game average is 31.3.
• During December – a sample size of 13 games — Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.9 PPG.

Based on the above trends, going with “under” for Gilgeous-Alexander looks like a safe bet here.

Prediction: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander UNDER 32.5 points

James’s Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Picks

• The Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (+3)
• Over/Under: OVER 240.5 points
• Player Prop Bet #1: Jayson Tatum UNDER 26.5 points
• Player Prop Bet#2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander UNDER 32.5 points