Boston Celtics (47-18) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (53-12)
Game Info: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 7:30 pm (TD Garden)
Betting Odds: Boston Celtics -4 -- Over/Under: 231 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ESPN
The Boston Celtics (47-18) will host the Oklahoma City Thunder (53-12) on March 12th, 2025, at TD Garden in a highly anticipated matchup between two of the NBA’s top teams. The Celtics, currently second in the Eastern Conference, are riding a five-game winning streak and have posted a 5-1 record during their current homestand, with their only loss coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Thunder, the Western Conference leaders, recently had their seven-game winning streak snapped in a 140-127 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Boston is led by Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 26.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while Oklahoma City is powered by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is putting up 31.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Oddsmakers have the Celtics as 4.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 232.5 points, indicating an expected high-scoring battle. With Boston’s strong home-court advantage and the Thunder’s dominant season, this game is shaping up to be a potential NBA Finals preview and a thrilling contest between two elite teams.
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Derrick White Over 17.5 Points
Derrick White has been great for the Boston Celtics during the 2024-25 NBA season. Over 65 games, he has averaged 19.0 points per game, with a field goal percentage of 47.5% and a three-point shooting accuracy of 42.0%. White's efficiency from the free-throw line stands at 87.9%. His consistent scoring has been instrumental in the Celtics' performance this season. We saw Derek white have a 40-point game just last week, but after that, his scoring production has slowed down. I see him bouncing back in this one, which should be a fun, high-scoring game. Taking the over on White’s points has been one of my more profitable strategies this NBA season, and just because he’s had a few off nights doesn’t mean I’m going to back away from what’s been working all season.
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 Rebounds
Jayson Tatum has been a pivotal force for the Boston Celtics during the 2024-25 NBA season, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court. Tatum has averaged 7.6 rebounds per game, contributing significantly to the Celtics' rebounding efforts. His consistent presence on the boards has been instrumental in the Celtics' performance this season. Tatum is coming off a game where he secured 12 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers, and I’m expecting him to have another strong night on the boards in this one. The Thunder do a lot of things great, but they have been susceptible to giving up plenty of rebounds to opposing teams. OKC is giving up the fourth most rebounds per game to their opponents. This a great matchup for Tatum when it comes to a rebounding perspective.
Luguentz Dort Under 9.5 Points
Luguentz Dort has been an inconsistent offensive contributor for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2024-25 NBA season. Over 65 games, he has averaged 12.5 points per game, with a field goal percentage of 41.0% and a three-point shooting accuracy of 35.0%. Dort's free-throw percentage stands at 80.0%. It’s fair to say that this Thunder team looks at Dort as more of a defensive weapon rather than a scorer. He’s coming off a big game where he scored 26 points against the Denver Nuggets, but when we see Dort have a big night, he typically follows it with a quiet night scoring a ball. There are a lot of mouths to feed on this Thunder team, and I don’t see Dort getting a lot of quality looks in this one.
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AUTHOR: Brad Francis
