Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/16/2023

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, NBCSB

DraftKings: Celtics -8.5

FanDuel: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Celtics: 32-12

Hornets: 11-33

The Boston Celtics, the top team in the NBA, will look to keep this good run of winning going when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

This is the second of a two-game home series with the Celtics and Hornets, with Boston winning the last game on Saturday, a 122-106 win and easily covering the 8-point spread as the favorites. Jayson Tatum strengthened his MVP case with 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Malcolm Brogdon also had 30 points in 31 minutes off the bench.

Not to mention that the Celtics won that game without Jaylen Brown, who is set to miss time with a groin injury that could result in a few weeks to a month.

“I think it's just this team's depth," Brogdon said. "We have a lot of really good players on this team and it is just a next man up mentality.”

That’s one way of putting it. Boston’s depth is much better this year and is the reason why they might be in the running to win an NBA title, not just get there like they did last year.

The Celtics are still running a form of 8-2 in their last 10 and 4-2 against the spread in their last six. The three before that were losses, including Oklahoma City winning by 33 on Jan. 3. Boston was 8-point favorites against Charlotte in the lat game and was favored by just 1 in the win over Brooklyn. The Celtics have been taking care of business against the spread, but what matters is how good they’ve been on the court.

“I think we lose that game a month ago,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “... One of these things we talk about is closing out quarters and starting quarters, so the end of the second quarter was huge for us. I thought we did a great job staying the course.”

The Hornets haven’t had the year they wished for, sitting at 11-33 and played the whole season without LaMelo Ball up until recently. LaMelo dropped 31 and nine assists in this game, and Terry Rozier added 21, but the Hornets are so far behind the 8-ball that it doesn’t seem to matter.

“Yeah, they shoot a lot of 3s, so there’s definitely going to be long rebounds, so we’ve got to just get those,” Ball said. "I feel like they were getting a lot of second chance, third chance, all that type of stuff, so it’s going to be hard to win.”

The Hornets have only covered twice in the last eight games while outright losing seven of their last eight heading into this game. Not that it should change since they’re facing the Celtics again, but I digress.

Boston is just too good to allow a game like this to get away from them. The Hornets will be better in the second half with Ball back, but not good enough to take out the best team in the league. Celtics 124, Hornets 103

Celtics are 81-64 ATS in all games the last 2 seasons.

Celtics are 43-29 ATS off an under the last 2 seasons.

Hornets are 7-15 ATS as an underdog between 3.5 and 9.5 this season.

PG: Marcus Smart

SG: Derrick White

SF: Sam Hauser

PF: Jayson Tatum

C: Al Horford

PG: LaMelo Ball

SG: Terry Rozier

SF: Jalen McDaniels

PF: P.J. Washington

C: Mason Plumlee

Celtics: Jaylen Brown (groin, out)

Hornets: Gordon Hayward (hamstring, out), Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand, out)

Statistical leaders

Points: Jayson Tatum – 30.6

Rebounds: Jayson Tatum – 8.2

Assists: Marcus Smart – 7.4

Points: LaMelo Ball – 24.0

Rebounds: Mason Plumlee – 9.8

Assists: Lamelo Ball – 8.6