Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets odds, picks and predictions

The Boston Celtics (11-2) and Charlotte Hornets (3-9) square off Monday with tip-off from Spectrum Center set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Celtics vs. Hornets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; Boston won 4-0 last year

The Celtics survived a scare by the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday as they snuck away with a 102-100 victory as 10.5-point favorites. Boston had trouble taking care of the ball with 17 turnovers that led to 19 points. G Jaylen Brown had just 12 points on 5-for-16 shooting (31.3%). C Kristaps Porzingis had the go-ahead bucket late as part of his team-leading 26 points. They are 6-5-2 ATS on the season and 2-4-2 on the road.

The Hornets have dropped 4 in a row after the 122-108 loss to the New York Knicks Saturday. They are just 5-7 ATS and 2-5 at home. G LaMelo Ball had 34 points and 9 assists as he’s making an early statement for the All-Star Game. He’s averaging 24.4 points, 5.3 boards, 8.3 dimes and shooting 38.5% from distance.

Celtics at Hornets odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Celtics -400 (bet $400 to win $100) | Hornets +310 (bet $100 to win $310)
Against the spread (ATS): Celtics -9.5 (-105) | Hornets +9.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 232.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Celtics at Hornets key injuries

Celtics

Hornets

C Nick Richards (concussion) out
G Terry Rozier (groin) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Celtics at Hornets picks and predictions

Prediction

Celtics 116, Hornets 110

Moneyline

This is the final game of Boston’s 4-game road trip, and it failed to cover 9 and 12.5-point spreads in the last 2 games. So it is vulnerable for an upset here, but I’m not confident enough to book it. In any event, the moneyline is too steep to consider for Boston.

PASS and look to the spread.

Against the spread

This opened at 9 points and has been steamed up to 9.5. With Boston possibly winded on the end of a road trip and having failed to cover 2 games in a row, I’m siding with the HORNETS +9.5 (-115). They are just 2-5 ATS at home, but this is more about Boston’s trends of failing to cover this big of a gap.

Over/Under

The Celtics are 5-7-1 O/U on the season, and Charlotte is 8-4. The Hornets push the pace and are 7th in that category in the league. Boston is more deliberate at 26th, but it has eclipsed 100 points in each game this season. The Over is 0-6-1 in the Celtics’ last 7 games, and I’m feeling the UNDER 232.5 (-110) with tired legs at the end of the road trip.

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