The Boston Celtics are still without a loss this season, and they will take aim at adding another victim this Sunday, as they go up against the Brooklyn Nets, who are on a roll themselves of late. Will the Celtics snap Brooklyn’s streak? Or, will it be another way around? 

Catch this game live on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 8 AM, Manila time

Away: Boston Celtics (4-0/2-0 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  •  Jrue Holiday
  • Derrick White
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Kristaps Porzingis

The Celtics are the only undefeated left in the field following the Dallas Mavericks’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Boston extended their hot start to the season in a 155-104 destruction of the Indiana Pacers at home last Thursday. With the Celtics entering Sunday’s meeting with Brooklyn on two full days of rest and a roster that is looking as powerful as it is unstoppable at the moment, the Nets appear to be sitting ducks for Jayson Tatum and company. 

Tatum is leading the Celtics with 29.8 points per game and he’s accompanied by four other players, who are averaging at least 13 points per contest, including Beantown newcomers Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Porzingis and Holiday are more than covering the hole left by Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, and Robert Williams II, thanks in large part to their offensive capabilities. Boston is currently No. 1 in the NBA with 127.0 points per game and eighth with just 106.5 points allowed per outing.

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Home: Brooklyn Nets (2-2/0-1 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Ben Simmons
  • Cam Thomas
  • Spencer Dinwiddie
  • Mikal Bridges
  • Dorian Finney-Smith

Don’t look now but the Nets are gaining serious steam after stumbling right out of the gate this season. Following back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks, the Nets are now on a three-game win streak. Brooklyn hopes to sustain that momentum, as it looks to get the team’s first win at home. The Nets punctuated a four-game road trip on Saturday with a 109-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Although the Nets are not as well-rounded as the Celtics, they have a bunch of playmakers and major threats on offense. 

Take for example Cam Thomas, who is pacing the Nets with 25.8 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor. Mikal Bridges, Lonnie Walker IV, and Dorian Finney-Smith are also making it easier for the Nets to cope with the absence of Cameron Johnson, who will sit out another contest because of a calf issue. As a team, the Nets are dropping 116.8 points per game. They are also inside the top six in the league in both effective field goal percentage (57.8%) and true shooting rate (60.3%).

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Celtics (-10) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The Under (230.5) hits the Under.