The Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings both attempt to get back to their winning ways when they square off this Wednesday at Golden 1 Center. 

Catch this game live on Wednesday, March 22, at 10 AM, Manila time

Away: Boston Celtics (49-23/23-14 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Marcus Smart
  • SG: Jaylen Brown
  • SF: Jayson Tatum
  • PF: Al Horford
  • C: Robert Williams III

Just when it started to look like the Celtics have gotten their groove back again, they ran into a buzz saw last Sunday when they suffered a 118-117 road loss to the Utah Jazz to kill a two-game win streak. It was the second failed attempt for a three-game undefeated run for Boston this month. 

Boston’s usually stout defense didn’t click in the Jazz game, but it can still get the job done this Wednesday even against the high-flying Sacramento attack. The Celtics held the Kings to only 41.4 FG% and 25 3FG% in the first meeting this season back in November, with Boston coming away with an easy 122-104 win. On the season, the Celtics are eighth in the NBA with just 112.3 points allowed per game and fifth with teams posting just a 53.1 eFG% against Boston.  The Celtics are 3-0 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three meeting with the Kings.

Home: Sacramento Kings (43-28/21-14 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: De’Aaron Fox
  • SG: Kessler Edwards
  • SF: Harrison Barnes
  • PF: Keegan Murray
  • C: Domantas Sabonis

Like the Celtics, Sacramento also is coming off a loss to the Jazz on Tuesday in Salt Lake City, 128-120. The Kings just didn’t have it offensively, as they shot only 42.3 FG%. However, the Kings went off for 19 3-pointers on 52 attempts for a 36.5 3FG%. Sacramento is not going to be discouraged by one salty shooting night, as it has been wreaking havoc on offense for the most part of the 2022-23 NBA season. 

Sacramento remains the highest-scoring team in the league with 121.1 points per game on 49.7 FG% — second-best overall. The Kings are also No. 2 with a 57.6 eFG% and are the only team with a true shooting percentage better than 61%. Even though they are traveling back home for the second game of a back-to-back, the Kings can earn further interest from bettors through the fact that they are 4-1 ATS in their last five games on zero days of rest.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Celtics (-4.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (238.5) hits the Under.