Celtics vs Hornets Predictions, Picks & Odds - 4-1-2024

The Boston Celtics put a six-game road trip to bed when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Boston bounced back from a pair of shocking losses at Atlanta with a one-sided win at New Orleans on Saturday and the NBA odds see the Celtics closing out this road swing in style, pegging the visitors as 17-point chalk.

This hefty spread is warranted, considering these teams are on opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings. 

While No. 1 Boston has a comfortable lead over the rest of the East, Charlotte has sunk to 13th thanks to a losing funk that’s seen the franchise win only once in the past eight games (2-6 ATS).

I run down the spread and Over/Under for this “April Fools” clash and give my best NBA picks and predictions for Celtics vs. Hornets on April 1.

Celtics vs Hornets predictions

My best bet: Jayson Tatum Under 27.5 points (-113 at FanDuel)

With only eight games left on the schedule and a “hare-like” lead over the tortoises in the East, you can’t blame the Boston Celtics for taking their foot off the gas in the home stretch of the season.

Boston has an 11-Game gap between it and No. 2 Milwaukee and tonight’s trip to Charlotte as 17-point chalk is another opportunity for head coach Joe Mazzulla to fine-tune some things before the playoffs.

Mazzulla did just that in the Celtics’ losses to Atlanta last week. He purposely put his players in tough defensive matchups and didn’t sub or switch to give them experience in those spots before the playoffs. He’s also been mixing his rotation and trying out different lineup combos in these no-risk games. 

A game like tonight’s is also a spot to protect your top players in a meaningless contest against a team trying to sink to the bottom of the standings (and to the top of NBA Draft Lottery). 

Celtics All-Star guard Jaylen Brown is already questionable, as is big Kristaps Porzingis, and given the big spread calling for a blowout, just how much will Jayson Tatum be involved?

Tatum’s point prop for tonight is sitting as high as 27.5 points Over/Under. After putting up 31 and 37 points in 39 and 45 minutes (overtime) against the Hawks, Tatum was issued only 26 minutes of floor time against New Orleans and finished with 23 points on Saturday.

His player projections for tonight’s tilt all call for 34 minutes or more with his scoring output ranging from less than 24 to just over 28. The majority of models sit short of 27 points and my number comes out to 25.8 points given Tatum receives his regular workload of 36 minutes.

There lies the rub. I don’t think Tatum sees the same floor time. With a 17-point spread, the game script says Boston blows out Charlotte and Tatum watches most of the second half from the bench — that’s if the experimenting Mazzulla doesn’t already try to protect his star player before the postseason.

The Celtics have a good postseason primer ahead this week, with the Thunder — the No. 1 seed in the West — waiting for them at home on Wednesday. That’s reason enough to rest up. 

A talent like Tatum always has a high ceiling (especially when Brown is out) but given the factors for tonight’s trip to Charlotte, I’m buying his basement against the Bugs.

Celtics vs Hornets same-game parlay

Boston could be down two of its top scorers and Tatum’s involvement could be light. Joe Mazzulla is using these final games to tighten the bolts before the playoffs, so covering this massive spread isn’t on his to-do list.

Projections are calling for less than 27 points — even before a potential drop in minutes due to Game script and coaching plans.

Meanwhile, White will have the green light should the Celtics’ top stars take a backseat. He’s gone over 15 points in six straight outings.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Celtics vs Hornets odds and trends

Celtics vs Hornets opening odds

• Spread: Boston -17 | Charlotte -17
• Moneyline: Boston -2,000 | Charlotte +1,000
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5

Celtics vs Hornets spread and Over/Under analysis

• With the Celtics getting right in NOLA and Charlotte playing its second of back-to-back games after losing to the Clippers yesterday, NBA oddsmakers opened Boston as big as 19-point favorites for Monday’s game. That spread has since slimmed to as short as 17 points.
  
  
• Boston All-Star guard Jaylen Brown is questionable with a sprained left hand while veteran 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis is a game-time decision due to a tender hamstring. As for Charlotte, its depleted backcourt could be extra thin with guard Aleksej Pokusevski missing Sunday’s game due to illness.
  
  
• Boston is 9-3 ATS in its last dozen games, however, the Celtics lost both matchups with Atlanta as double-digit chalk earlier in this road trip. Head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters he used situations in those games as a form of practice before the playoffs. Not exactly what you want to hear when laying the points with the C’s.
  
  
• This total opened at 218.5 points. That number dropped to 217.5 before coming back up and sitting at 219 O/U at some books on Monday morning. Boston is 7-2 O/U in its last nine contests and 20-19 O/U as a visitor this season. Charlotte is 18-18 O/U as a host and 8-5 O/U on no rest.

Celtics vs Hornets betting trend to know

Boston is 9-5 SU and 5-8-1 ATS as a double-digit road favorite under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Hornets.

Celtics vs Hornets game info

Celtics vs Hornets latest injuries