Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets Picks and Predictions November 8th 2024

Celtics vs Nets November 8th 2024

In a divisional matchup, the Brooklyn Nets (4-4) travel to take on the Boston Celtics (7-2) at TD Garden. The Celtics are currently favored by 13.5 points and the over/under line is set at 224.5.

This game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 ET and will be televised on NBCS.

Nets vs. Celtics Key Information

Brooklyn evened their record at 4-4 with a 106-104 win over the Grizzlies on Monday. The Nets, who were +4.5 point underdogs, not only won but also covered the spread. The total points for the game were 210, falling short of the 222.5 O/U line.

After a slow start, trailing 30-23 after the 1st quarter, Brooklyn turned things around by outscoring Memphis 27-19 in the 2nd quarter. They carried an 83-79 lead into the 4th quarter, where they held on despite being outscored 25-23 in the final period.

In the Nets’ win over the Grizzlies, Cameron Johnson and Dennis Schröder each scored 20 points, with Johnson hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate. Dorian Finney-Smith added 17 points, knocking down 5 threes at 62.5% efficiency.

Brooklyn shot 47.6% from the field and made 13 threes at 36.1%. Finney-Smith scored 9 points in the 3rd quarter, while adding 8 more in the 4th.

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Despite giving up 30 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters, the Nets’ defense tightened up in the 2nd, allowing just 19 points, and held the Grizzlies to 25 points in the 4th to secure the win. Brooklyn limited Memphis to 104 points despite the Grizzlies shooting 47% from the field.

The Nets excelled at defending the three-point line, holding the Grizzlies to just 8 made threes on 26% shooting. Brooklyn also sent Memphis to the free-throw line only 13 times, where they made 10. The Nets finished with 7 steals and 1 block.

The Celtics fell to 7-2 on the season after a 118-112 home loss to the Warriors on Wednesday. Boston, favored by 6.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 230 narrowly exceeded the 228.5-point O/U line.

A 12-0 run by the Warriors in the 2nd quarter shifted momentum, as they outscored Boston 32-16 in that period. The Celtics responded with a 41-point 3rd quarter but couldn’t complete the comeback, getting edged out 36-31 in the final frame.

Jayson Tatum’s 32 points, including 17 in the 3rd quarter, led the Celtics in their 118-112 loss to the Warriors. Derrick White added 26 points, with 12 in the opening quarter and 8 more in the 4th. Payton Pritchard contributed 16 points, while Neemias Queta chipped in 8 of his 14 points in the final period.

Boston hit 19 threes, shooting 35.2% from deep and 42.2% overall. Tatum connected on 5 threes at a 50% rate, while White made 7, shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc.

The Celtics started strong defensively, holding the Warriors to just 19 points in the 1st quarter, but they couldn’t maintain that level of play, giving up 32 points in the 2nd and 36 in the 4th. Overall, Boston allowed 118 points on 46% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Warriors hit 14 threes at a 41% clip. The Celtics also sent Golden State to the line 24 times, where they made 20 free throws. Boston finished with 34 defensive rebounds but allowed 15 offensive boards, while recording 5 steals and 3 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +13.5, we have the Nets as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 224.5 and our model has the Nets and Celtics finishing with a combined 201 points. Our pick is to take the under.

Celtics Look to Bounce Back Against Nets After First Home Loss

The Boston Celtics will aim to return to their winning ways on Friday night as they host the Brooklyn Nets. This game comes on the heels of Boston’s first home defeat of the season, a tough 118-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

Boston Seeking to Rebound After Tough Loss

Wednesday’s loss marked only the second defeat for the Celtics (7-2) this season. Despite a slow start, Jayson Tatum showed his resilience, finishing with 32 points after a rough shooting stretch in the first half (2-for-7). The Celtics clawed back from a 14-point deficit but couldn’t close out against a Warriors team that remains a thorn in their side since the 2022 NBA Finals.

The defeat was especially frustrating given how close the Celtics came to a comeback. As Payton Pritchard noted:

“It’s just the little things that we’re going to look back at and be disappointed with ourselves because we definitely could have controlled that outcome.”

Derrick White also had a strong showing with 26 points, while Neemias Queta stepped up with a career-high 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 28 minutes off the bench. The Celtics have been missing Jaylen Brown, who has been sidelined with a strained hip flexor. Brown’s absence has given Queta a chance to shine, especially on the defensive end.

Coach Joe Mazzulla praised Queta’s growth:

“He’s doing a good job just understanding tendencies… He’s definitely growing.”

Brooklyn Nets Looking to Build on Recent Success

The Brooklyn Nets (5-5) have found their footing after a shaky start, winning three of their last four games to even their record. The Nets are coming off a narrow 106-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, showcasing their newfound grit.

Cam Johnson highlighted the team’s resilience:

“There’s a grit, you know? Two of our wins have come on the second night of a back-to-back, which I don’t think we had great success with in the past.”

Johnson and Dennis Schroder each contributed 20 points in the win against Memphis, with Schroder adding six assists. The Nets are showing signs of improvement, particularly in the second game of back-to-backs, where they are now 2-0 this season after going 4-10 last year.

The good news for Brooklyn is the return of Nic Claxton and potentially Ben Simmons. Claxton made his first start on Monday since recovering from a hamstring injury, while Simmons, who has been nursing a back issue, could see action on Friday. The Nets are eager to see Simmons increase his offensive output.

Coach Jordi Fernandez expressed confidence in Simmons’ progress:

“I don’t care about makes-misses. I just want to see shots going up. He’s more than capable of doing it, so he’ll get there for sure.”

Key Matchups and Outlook

The Celtics will need to tighten up defensively after allowing the Warriors to shoot efficiently in the second half on Wednesday. The presence of Neemias Queta in the paint has been promising, but they will be hoping for Jaylen Brown’s return to add more firepower to their offense.

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On the other hand, the Nets are getting healthier and starting to gel, which could pose a challenge for the Celtics. The potential return of Simmons alongside Claxton provides Brooklyn with much-needed defensive versatility.

The Nets will need to contain Tatum, who has been in fine form, averaging over 30 points per game. Meanwhile, Boston must be wary of Cam Johnson and Dennis Schroder, who have been efficient scorers for Brooklyn.

Outlook

Both teams are looking to maintain momentum as the season progresses. The Celtics aim to bounce back from their first home loss, while the Nets are focused on building on their recent success. With Brown’s status uncertain and Simmons potentially returning, this game could be a tightly contested matchup.

After facing the Celtics, the Nets will continue their road trip with a tough back-to-back game against the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. The Celtics, meanwhile, will look to protect their home court before hitting the road again.

This game promises to be an exciting clash of Eastern Conference contenders, with both teams seeking to establish consistency in the early stages of the season.