Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Picks and Predictions March 15th 2025

Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics March 15th 2025

At 6:00 ET, the Brooklyn Nets will host the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Atlantic Division matchup. The Celtics are favored by 11 and have a moneyline of -552. The over/under line is set at 215.

Brooklyn enters the game with a record of 22-44 and is currently on a two-game losing streak. The Celtics are 48-19 and are 2nd in the Eastern Conference. For more betting insights, check out our latest NBA Expert Picks before placing your final wagers.

Celtics vs. Nets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
• Where: Brooklyn at Barclays Center
• Date: Saturday, March 15th
• Betting Odds BOS -11, BOS -552 | BKN +408 O/U 215

The Celtics Can Win If…

Boston improved to 48-19 on the season with a 103-91 road win over Miami on Friday. The Celtics, favored by 7.5 points, covered the spread, while the game’s total of 194 points fell well short of the 212-point over/under line.

After a 10-0 run turned an 81-79 lead into 89-81, Boston’s defense clamped down, holding Miami to just 14 points in the 4th quarter.

Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday each hit 5 threes in the Celtics’ win over the Heat, with Tatum scoring 28 points and Holiday adding 25 on 66.7% shooting. Boston connected on 19 threes at a 38% clip, while shooting 43.4% overall from the field.

Derrick White contributed 18 points, with 12 coming in the 4th quarter. Tatum scored 11 points in the 3rd, while Holiday added 10 in the 1st.

The Celtics’ defense held the Heat to 91 points on Friday, including a standout 4th quarter where they allowed just 14 points. Boston gave up 27 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters but still managed to secure the win.

Boston limited Miami’s three-point shooting, allowing 13 made threes on 38% shooting. The Heat also went 10/17 from the free-throw line. Defensively, the Celtics grabbed 32 rebounds, gave up 7 offensive boards, and added 8 steals and 4 blocks.

• Across their three previous road games, Boston has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-1 while averaging 103 points per game.
• Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Celtics have an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 against the spread.
• Over their last three games, the Celtics have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Nets Can Win If…

Brooklyn’s season record fell to 22-44 after a 116-110 road loss to the Bulls on Thursday. The Nets, who were +1.5 point underdogs, didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 226 points fell short of the 230.5 O/U line.

Brooklyn led 92-82 entering the 4th quarter after winning the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but the Bulls went on a 10-0 run and outscored the Nets 34-18 in the final period to take the win.

In their 116-110 loss to the Bulls, the Nets shot 44.8% from the field, with a below-average 32.4% from three, connecting on just 11 threes. Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 24 points and 10 assists, despite shooting 34.8% from the floor and hitting 3 threes at 33.3%.

Tyrese Martin added 19 points, making 5 threes at 62.5%. Nic Claxton contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 61.5%. Thomas scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter, while Martin had 11 in the 1st, and Claxton added 8 in the 4th.

Defensively, the Nets had a strong 3rd quarter, holding the Bulls to just 20 points, but they struggled in the 4th, giving up 34 points in a 116-110 loss. Brooklyn allowed 31 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters, with Chicago shooting 45% from the field overall.

The Nets did well in limiting the Bulls’ three-point shooting, as Chicago made just 11 threes on 29% shooting. Brooklyn also recorded 7 blocks and 6 steals, while giving up 23 free throws on 26 attempts.

• Through their last ten home contests, the Nets offense has averaged 104 points per game while allowing an average of 109. Brooklyn posted an overall record of 3-7 while going 4-6 ATS.
• Through their last three games as the betting underdog, the Nets have a strong record vs the spread going 2-1. Their straight up mark in these contests is 1-2.
• In their last five games, the Nets have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Celtics is our selection to secure the victory, with a projected score of 138-85. We also like them to cover the spread, so we suggest betting on the Celtics at -11.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 215 and our model has the Celtics and Nets finishing with a combined 223 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Celtics Continue Dominance Over Nets

The Boston Celtics officially clinched a playoff spot after Friday’s 103-91 win over the Miami Heat, but they aren’t slowing down. Boston (48-19) has won six of its last seven games and looks to extend its dominance over the struggling Brooklyn Nets (22-44) when the teams meet Saturday night in Brooklyn.

The Celtics have controlled this head-to-head matchup, winning 12 of the last 13 regular-season meetings, including two victories over Brooklyn in November. Nine of those 12 wins have come by double digits, and Boston’s depth remains a key factor in their success.

Boston’s Balanced Attack Rolling Without Brown

Boston’s latest win over Miami came despite the absence of Jaylen Brown, who continues to deal with a knee injury. While Brown has been inconsistent in recent weeks, Jayson Tatum has stepped up in a big way, averaging 32.1 points per game over his last seven outings. Tatum’s ability to take over offensively has allowed the Celtics to maintain their high level of play, regardless of injuries.

Jrue Holiday also delivered a big performance on Friday, scoring a season-high 25 points while knocking down five 3-pointers. The veteran guard has dealt with a finger injury but showed no signs of hesitation against Miami, providing an added scoring punch in Brown’s absence.

With Brown’s status uncertain for Saturday, the Celtics will likely continue to rely on their deep roster, which has proven effective in their matchups with Brooklyn.

Nets Struggling With Fourth-Quarter Execution

Brooklyn enters this contest on a downward spiral, having lost nine of its last 10 games. The Nets’ biggest issue has been closing out games, as they’ve repeatedly collapsed in the second half.

Their last four losses—against Chicago, Cleveland, Charlotte, and Golden State—have all been close, but they were outscored 241-189 after halftime in those games. Foul trouble has also been a major factor, as Brooklyn has given up 64 free throw attempts during this four-game stretch.

Cam Thomas remains Brooklyn’s primary scoring threat, but his second-half struggles have hurt the team’s ability to finish games. He has shot just 16-for-47 after halftime over the last four contests, including a 4-of-14 performance in the final two quarters against Chicago on Thursday.

If the Nets want to be competitive against Boston, they’ll need to find a way to sustain their energy and execution for four quarters, something they haven’t been able to do in recent weeks.

Head-to-Head Season Series Analysis

Boston has already secured two wins over Brooklyn this season, first rallying for a 108-104 overtime victory on Nov. 8 and then cruising to a 139-114 blowout win on Nov. 13.

In that second meeting, the Celtics completely dominated, outscoring Brooklyn 107-80 over the final three quarters. Tatum was instrumental, scoring 20 of his 36 points in the second half, while Brown added 24 points in his return after missing the first matchup.

Given the Celtics’ recent form and the Nets’ second-half struggles, another convincing Boston victory seems likely.

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Expert Prediction and Betting Insight

Boston continues to assert itself as the top team in the East, even while managing injuries. Tatum is playing at an elite level, Holiday is finding his rhythm offensively, and the Celtics’ defensive discipline remains one of their biggest strengths.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s inability to execute late in games makes them a risky bet, even as a home underdog. If the Nets continue their trend of second-half collapses, Boston should have no trouble pulling away.

With the Celtics dominating this head-to-head matchup, bettors should consider their strong record against Brooklyn when evaluating spread and total bets.