NBA Wednesday December 7th Celtics at Suns Betting Preview

Boston has the best record in the NBA at 20-5, but they get a tough test in Wednesday’s Celtics at Suns betting matchup considering Phoenix is 12-2 at home this season. The C’s have won 7 of their last 8 and part of their great mark this season is due to being 9-3 on the road which is why they are slight -1.5 away favorites here.

Phoenix lost their last game at the Footprint Center and it wasn’t pretty, falling 122-121 to the Rockets as -11.5 home favorites. That snapped a six game win streak for the Suns who also suffered a 130-111 loss in Dallas on Monday although that was on the second leg of a back to back. 59% of public bettors like Boston in this spot.

Boston the Play at -1.5?

It’s been so far so good for the Celtics who have started their 6-game road trip with a 103-92 win at Brooklyn and a 116-112 victory in Toronto to cover a -2.5 and a +1.5 point spread respectively.

Monday’s win in Toronto was especially impressive because the C’s were playing on the back-to-back, the Raptors are 9-3 at home, and because Boston was missing Malcolm Brogdon (illness) and Al Horford (back). Jayson Tatum stepped up with 31 points (5th time in the last 7 with 30+) while Jaylen Brown added 22 which was actually his lowest output in the past 9 games.

Boston is playing their third road game in four nights in the Celtics at Suns betting matchup, but they should be getting both Brogdon and Horford back. That should provide a boost to the Celtics’ #1 ranked offensive efficiency against a Suns defense that is in the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency over their last three games.

Suns Getting Paul Back?

While Boston is likely getting Brogdon and Horford back in their lineup, it looks like Phoenix will get reinforcements too with Chris Paul (heel) upgraded to probable. Paul hasn’t played since November7th with the Suns going 9-5 in his absence.

While the return is an emotional boost for Phoenix, Paul didn’t have the best start to the season averaging just 9.5 ppg, but still adding 9.4 assists/game as well. Devin Booker has stepped up in a big way in Paul’s absence, going for 44, 51, and 41 points over a three game stretch before averaging just 15.5 ppg the last two – both blowout games though.

The Suns have allowed 120+ in two of their last three so Boston should be able to get their points here. Both teams got 15+ point wins on their own court as they split the season series a year ago.

Free Celtics at Suns Betting Pick

This is a tough contest to handicap because the Celtics have been so good this season overall while Phoenix has also been very solid at home. You can’t take much from the Suns’ big loss to Dallas on Monday because they were playing on the back to back, but Phoenix losing to Houston in their last home game does leave a sour taste.

Simply following a trend here of the Celtics going 1-6 ATS in their last 7 trips to Phoenix and also playing in their third road game in four nights. Taking the Suns.

Free Pick: Suns +1.5