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OKC Thunder vs Boston Celtics Predictions, Odds & Player Props (April 3)

Sascha Paruk

by Sascha Paruk in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 3, 2024 · 10:17 AM PDT

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum goes for a layup against the OKC Thunder
Jan 2, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) goes to the basket between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) and forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
  • The OKC Thunder visit the Boston Celtics tonight with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) listed as a game-time decision
  • OKC’s second-leading scorer, Jalen Williams (ankle), is also questionable
  • See the OKC Thunder vs Boston Celtics predictions, odds, and player props for Wednesday, April 3

Suffering from key injuries at the wrong time of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder (52-23, 23-15 away, 42-32-1 ATS) head into Wednesday’s road game with the Boston Celtics (56-19, 32-3 home, 39-33-3 ATS) as nine-point road underdogs, the biggest spread OKC has faced all season.

Tip-off for OKC vs Boston is scheduled for 7:40 pm ET at TD Garden in Boston, MA.

OKC Thunder vs Boston Celtics Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
OKC Thunder +9 (-110) +300 Over 231.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics -9 (-110) -380 Under 231.5 (-110)

OKC is also a +300 underdog to hand Boston just its fourth home loss of the entire season. The Celtics are -380 favorites to run their home win streak to 11 games. The game total is listed as 231.5, the NBA odds. The game

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Odds as of April 3 at ESPN Bet. New users can claim the ESPN Bet promo code to bet on tonight’s NBA games. 

The Celtics have already clinched first in the East in the 2024 NBA playoff bracket, holding a 12-game lead on second-place Milwaukee with just seven games to play.

The Thunder are in a heated three-way race for top seed in the West with Denver and Minnesota. The Nuggets currently hold a half-game lead on both the Thunder and T-Wolves, but OKC and Minnesota have a game in hand, meaning an upset in Boston tonight would put the Thunder into a tie for first.

Home-court advantage could prove massively important in the postseason. Denver didn’t lose a single game at home during its run to the NBA title last year.

Thunder Struggling While SGA Battles Injury

Gilgeous-Alexander (30.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.5 RPG) has missed three of OKC’s last four games, and the Thunder went just 1-2 without their MVP contender. Last time out, the Thunder fell 109-105 at the 76ers with rookie center Chet Holmgren scoring a team-high 22 points.

Jalen Williams (19.5 PPG, 4.6 APG) also missed the Philadelphia game.

YouTube video

Both SGA and Williams are listed as game-time decisions tonight in Boston.

If the teams are at full strength, this will be a battle between the two most-complete teams in the NBA this year. OKC is the only team besides Boston that ranks top five in both Offensive Rating (118.6, fourth) and Defensive Rating (111.5, fourth). The Celtics are first in O-Rating (122.4) and third in D-Rating (110.7).

The Thunder took the only previous meeting between the teams this season, a 127-123 victory in Oklahoma City. SGA had 36 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in the victory, while Kristaps Porzingis led Boston with 34.

YouTube video

Boston Rebounds from Back-to-Back Losses

Last week, the Celtics suffered back-to-back losses for just the third time all season when they fell in a pair of extremely tight road games with Atlanta (120-118 and  123-122 in OT).

YouTube video

The Celtics recovered by closing out their six-game road trip with dominant wins at New Orleans (104-92) and Charlotte (118-104).

Jayson Tatum (27.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.9 APG) has led the C’s in scoring for five straight games and now sits seventh in the NBA in scoring.

OKC vs BOS Player Props

Player Points Rebounds Assists Three-Pointers Made
Derrick White (BOS) 15.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) 4.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) 5.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) 2.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120)
Jaylen Brown (BOS) 21.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) 5.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) 2.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) 2.5 (Ov +145 | Un -190)
Jayson Tatum (BOS) 25.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un -145) 4.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) 2.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120)
Jrue Holiday (BOS) 11.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un -140) 4.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) 1.5 (Ov -166 | Un +130)
Kristaps Porzingis (BOS) 20.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) 6.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) OFF 2.5 (Ov +120 | Un -150)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) 28.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) 5.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) 5.5 (Ov +110 | Un -140) 1.5 (Ov +145 | Un -190)

Player props as of April 3 at DraftKings. Get the DraftKings promo code for new users to bet on OKC vs BOS today.

Thunder vs Celtics Prediction

It’s hard for me to take too firm a stance on this game without knowing whether SGA (and Williams) will be in the lineup. But OKC is more than just it’s best player. They have a deep and talented roster that’s going to battle for every inch as they fight for home-court advantage in the playoffs.

OKC vs BOS pick: Thunder +9 (-110)

Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:

  • 18-23 moneyline (+4.06 units)
  • 23-18-2 ATS (+4.90 units)
  • 0-1 over/under (-1.00 units)
  • 8-14 player props (-7.08 units)
  • 0-3 same-game parlay (-3.00 units)

 

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