NBA Boston Celtics vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 10-25-2018, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder +0.5

Total: +211.5

The second-worse squad of the whole NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are still looking for their first victory of the season after three attempts, are hosting the team that held the second-best record in the East last season, the Boston Celtics, who want to return to the winning ways.

The Celtics are 2-2 so far in the league and are tied with 4 more squads in the fifth place of the Eastern Conference. They are 1-2 in their last 3 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Orlando at home, 90-93. The Thunder are 0-3 so far in the league and are sitting on the bottom of the Western Conference. They have lost their last three games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Sacramento at home, 120-131.

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Boston are led in scoring by Jayson Tatum with 17.5 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounding with 10.5 per game, while Kyrie Irving follows with 16.5 ppg, adding a team-best 5.8 assists per game. Oklahoma are led in scoring by Russell Westbrook with 32 ppg. He also adds 12 rebounds and leading the team in assists made with 8 per game, while Paul George follows with 25.3 ppg, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Steven Adams adds 14.7 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 14.3 per game.  

Those two squads met twice last year with the Celtics winning both games. They won at home with a 100-99 score and on the road 94-101. Oklahoma are 0-1 at home so far, while Boston are 1-1 on the road. Oklahoma have a better offense with 104 ppg to Boston’s 99.8, while Boston have a better defense, allowing 98.5 ppg to Oklahoma’s 115.7. Boston have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 41.2% to Oklahoma’s 39% and from behind the arc, shooting with 31.1% to Oklahoma’s 23.8%. Celtics are also better in assists (23 to 20.7), in rebounding (50.5 to 49.3) and commit fewer turnovers per game (14.5 to 15.3). Oklahoma have been underwhelming so far this season and expect Boston to get away with the road win one way or another.

Boston Celtics vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction: Boston Celtics -0.5 (-111)