WHO: Celtics (19-18) @ Rockets (11-25)
WHEN: 8:00 P.M. EST
WHERE: Toyota Center
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: NBC Sports Boston, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, League Pass
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Celtics
G: Kemba Walker
G: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Daniel Theis
G: Kevin Porter Jr.
G: Victor Oladipo
F: Sterling Brown
F: Jae’Sean Tate
C: Justin Patton
The Boston Celtics (19-18) will look to get their groove back after a tough 121-109 loss to Brooklyn on Thursday. With a few days off in between, Boston will be a full-go in terms of health besides Romeo Langford, who is still out due to Health and Safety Protocols.
Houston will have their fair share of absentees, which includes John Wall, Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, Danuel House, Rodions Kurucs, Dante Exum, and PJ Tucker. Houston has been having a tough season since James Harden forced his way out, and new Head Coach Stephen Silas has had his work cut out for him. The Rockets are on an abysmal 15 game losing streak, and with a depleted roster should be an get-right game for the Celtics.
According to the online sports book Betonline.ag, the Celtics are 10.5 favorites on the road in Houston this evening.
- Celtics @ Rockets spread: Celtics -10.5
- Celtics @ Rockets over-under: 221.5 points
- Celtics @ Rockets money line: Rockets +500, Celtics -650
What’s on Tap
With Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker both a full go, I don’t expect Boston to struggle much. Even in the loss to Brooklyn, Boston still held their ground for a majority of their game before bottoming out. While Kemba Walker needs to have a bounce-back performance, Houston poses nowhere near the challenges that Brooklyn does, and that’s with Houston at full-strength. With all of these accumulated injuries for Houston, Boston should have no issue handling the Rockets on the road.
Prediction
After a tough loss to Brooklyn on Thursday and a few days rest, look for Boston to take care of business with a Rockets team that has struggled without offseason signing Christian Wood in the fold. Wood is slated to return after multiple injuries to his right ankle kept him sidelined for over a month. With John Wall out and their bench missing key shooters, Houston will have a tough time trying to hold off Boston’s roster at almost full strength.
Boston 114, Houston 103
