The Charlotte Hornets are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference when they play at home but one of the worst on the road. They will be big NBA betting underdogs Wednesday night when they visit Boston – how big depends on whether Kyrie Irving plays for the Celtics.
How to Bet Hornets vs Celtics NBA Week 16 Odds & Game Info
“I think we’re growing. We’re heading in the right direction. Those are positive things… At the end of the day, our defense is what’s going to win us a playoff series. It’s not going to be our offense.” – @BismackBiyombo
Watch JB’s interview now at https://t.co/BzkRIrrehy! pic.twitter.com/0aDn8IMJUI — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) 29 de enero de 2019
- When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: TD Garden
- TV: NBA TV
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- Radio: TuneIn
- NBA Week 16 Odds: TBA
Season series
Teams have split two meetings. They last played Dec. 23 in Boston and the Celtics won 119-103. The Celtics took a 68-47 lead into the halftime locker room and it would prove to be too much to overcome for the Hornets. Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with a game-high 25 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds as Boston won their fifth-straight against the Hornets at TD Garden.
Jason Tatum chipped in 17 points and four rebounds for Boston, while Marcus Morris added 12 points and eight boards. All-Star guard Kemba Walker had a team-high 21 points for the Hornets and added four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Willy Hernangomez collected a double-double off the bench with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Why Bet on Charlotte?
The Hornets are off a 101-92 win Monday vs. the Knicks. Charlotte got 63 points from its bench — including 15 from Tony Parker and 14 from Malik Monk, who added four clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Hornets handed the Knicks their 10th straight loss. The Hornets entered the fourth quarter tied, but Monk scored 12 points during a pivotal 17-1 run.
All-Star Kemba Walker (neck) was held to 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting on Monday. You could tell that it took some time for Walker to get comfortable, as he didn’t go through his usual pre-game routine in favor of more treatment and was just 2-of-8 from the field for five points in the first half. Walker has been cold since the turn of the new year and was hitting 40.2% of his shots entering this game.
Willy Hernangomez double-doubled off the bench against his former Knicks on Monday, scoring 11 points with 11 rebounds and one block in 21 minutes. Cody Zeller (right-hand surgery) said he’s about a week away from returning. Once Zeller comes back, Bismack Biyombo and Hernangomez will lose playing time. Monday was Hernangomez’s third double-double of the season and his third game in his last six appearances with at least 10 rebounds (16 vs. SAC, 1/17 and 13 vs. PHX, 1/19).
Charlotte’s second unit is currently averaging 44.4 points per game, the third-highest bench average in the league this season. The Hornets bench is ranked fourth in assists (9.6), eighth in blocks (2.2) and 11th in rebounds (17.7) per game.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.82
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.19
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.63
- Free Throw Percentage: 78.64
- Total Rebounds: 44.98
Defense
- Total Score: 111.12
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.35
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.68
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.73
- Total Rebounds: 45.57
Why Bet on Boston?
The Boston Celtics played without star Kyrie Irving on Monday but still beat Brooklyn 112-104. The Nets had won six straight and 19 of their previous 24 games. The Celtics took charge with an 11-0 run early in the final quarter. Jaylen Brown capped the spree with a 3-pointer from the right corner, pushing Boston’s lead to 102-90 with just over 7 minutes to play.
Making his seventh start of the season Monday vs. the Nets, Terry Rozier played 35 minutes and tallied 14 points (6-of-15 FGs), seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers. “Scary Terry” reached double figures in points for the second time in his last three games Monday, and the seven assists are the most that he’s had in a game since January 4 vs. Dallas (seven).
Aron Baynes had one of his best offensive performances of the season Monday vs. the Nets, as he scored 16 points (6-of-11 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs) while also tallying six rebounds, three blocks, one assist and two 3-pointers in 21 minutes. Al Horford played 29 minutes Monday vs. the Nets, accounting for 14 points (6-of-11 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), 11 rebounds, six blocks, five assists, and one steal.
As of this writing, it’s not clear if Irving plays here. Irving is currently averaging 23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists on the season and is one of just four players across the NBA this season to record at least 22 points, four rebounds and six assists per game joining James Harden, LeBron James, and Damian Lillard.
Irving had 32 points and 10 assists against the Warriors in a loss Saturday. and matched a career-best with his sixth consecutive game of 25 points or more. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said the guard “woke up stiff and sore” and thought he suffered the injury in a first-half fall during a loss to Golden State.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 112.16
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.97
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.89
- Free Throw Percentage: 80.74
- Total Rebounds: 45.18
Defense
- Total Score: 105.86
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.01
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.35
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.85
- Total Rebounds: 45.62
Hornets vs Celtics NBA Week 16 Betting Trends
- Favorite is 6-2-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings
- Home team is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings
- Charlotte is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
- Charlotte is 5-17 SU in its last 22 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 10 of Charlotte’s last 15 games on the road
- Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Boston is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games
Expert NBA Betting Prediction for Hornets vs Celtics
Take Boston even if Irving sits as Hornets are terrible on road.
