NBA Sunday tips: Celtics could badly use some Wizardry to break slump

Boston and Washington have found little to cheer about this NBA season but wins over each other are a useful consolation prize.

Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards

(Sunday, 8.30pm GMT)

Sunday’s battle of The Averages brings the Celtics to DC with the Wizards so far 2-0 up in the season series, but with little else to shout about.

Losers of three of their last four on their home floor, there’s still a case that talent-light Washington is over-achieving with a .500 record despite cooling off since their 10-3 start. Much of that is down to the handiwork of Bradley Beal with 23.7 points per game and some quietly efficient labour from their bench.

They’re also an impressive 8-3 in games decided by three points or less. However, with a very tough stretch ahead, a win here is vital to solidify a grip on a play-in spot.

Priced at 1.98 to add to Boston’s woes, the Wiz can take confidence from Jayson Tatum’s shooting slump that hit a nadir by going 0-6 from three-point range in Friday’s narrow loss to Portland. The Celtics are averaging a mere 104.5 points over their last ten games on a +3 differential, a period over which Washington is putting up 114.3.

What Boston need is to re-find their mojo. Tatum is 1-22 from three over the C’s last four appearances but the malaise runs deeper, with Boston crushed by the weight of expectation and an inability to build any momentum.

They’ve also missed Marcus Smart of late, with the guard listed as probable for a return following two weeks out with Covid, then injury. That should help Boston’s defence but this still feels like a clash of two squads going through the motions before an inevitable roster re-write come the summer.

Tip: Back Washington over Boston at +1.9 at 1.95

LA Clippers @ New York Knicks

(Sunday, 6pm GMT)

The Los Angeles Clippers, in the current era, aspire to be among the NBA title betting favourites. Presently, the market consider LA’s ‘other’ team to have a mere 2.5% chance of a championship in 2022.

Few have been hit harder by injuries this term, starting with the partially-torn ACL Kawhi Leonard sustained last summer. The shroud of secrecy around the date for his possible return makes it impossible to predict whether the Clips have any legitimate shot of rebounding to contention but – with Paul George also currently sitting out – it feels a push uphill.

But somehow, they are clinging onto a top eight spot in a play-in bracket in the Western Conference – adjoining two rivals (the LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets) also slammed by injuries, plus Minnesota. It gets tougher on an eight-game road swing that takes in Madison Square Garden on Sunday to visit the Knicks.

They keep battling though. Only one of the Clippers’ last six games has been decided by over six points, worth noting with LA available at 1.83 on a handicap of +4.5.

The Knicks – on a three-game losing streak - are also continuing to be a scoring vacuum although their sixth-ranked defence (104.6 per game) is holding opponents in check, a trait that points to a slow-cooked lunch in NYC.

Tip: Go under 207.0 total points in Clippers-Knicks at 1.9

Brooklyn Nets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

(Monday, 1am GMT)

The Nets are on the road on Sunday. Which means Kyrie Irving is available. Useful in the absence of Kevin Durant, who had 30 points in a 110-105 victory for Brooklyn over the T-Wolves last month.

So far, Irving has a positive differential of +11 since his return, including an impressive one-two assault with James Harden in Friday’s stomping over the San Antonio Spurs.

Top of the East, can the Nets really win it all though with Irving in and out, especially come the Finals? Hard to see. Which is why laying on that at 4.3 to come up short feels a solid punt.

Minnesota certainly resemble a team on the rise despite their own inconsistencies with Anthony Edwards finding his feet in his sophomore year although their recent 6-3 surge has been pinned on mediocre opponents. In that spell, they lead the NBA in points at 120.2 per night, with Brooklyn one spot behind at 116.4.

The Nets’ differential over that period is a very middling +1.4, which points towards a free-scoring but narrow win for the Timberwolves, who are 1.94 to come out ahead on a -2.5 spread.

Tip: Go under 235.5 total points in Nets-Timberwolves at 2.12

Recommended Bets

Back Washington over Boston at +1.9 at 1.95

Go under 207.0 total points in Clippers-Knicks at 1.9

Go under 235.5 total points in Nets-Timberwolves at 2.12