NBA
Boston comes in at 1-1 with a 110.0 points-per-game offense, 45.7% field-goal shooting, 39.5% from three, and a 1.112 offensive efficiency mark. The Celtics have been respectable on the glass and have kept games competitive on the defensive end, even though the sample is still small. Brooklyn is 0-3, has surrendered 123.7 points per game, and has posted a 20.5 turnover average that has made life much harder on both sides of the floor. The Nets are scoring 111.0 points per game, but that has not offset the damage from their defense, foul trouble, and poor possession quality in early games.
Boston’s home edge, stronger offensive efficiency, and far better early defensive profile point to a Celtics win with separation on the scoreboard. Brooklyn has opened 0-3 and has allowed far too many points, while Boston’s attack has been efficient enough to create margin even without an explosive pace. The projected result is Boston 118, Brooklyn 104, which supports a Celtics cover and a game total in the low 220s.
