The Boston Celtics head to Atlanta on Saturday for an Eastern Conference showdown against the struggling Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. The Celtics have worked their way to the top of the Atlantic Division despite injuries hurting their roster, while the Hawks have struggled in the wake of the Trae Young trade. Here, I take a closer look at both of these teams and make my Celtics vs Hawks prediction in the betting markets.
Our Celtics vs Hawks Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks
- Date & Time: January 17, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Celtics (25-15) are contending in a tight Eastern Conference and bring a high-powered offense and elite defense into Atlanta. Boston just snapped a two-game skid with an impressive 119-114 victory over the Miami Heat, led by a 39-point performance from Anfernee Simons and a strong showing from Jaylen Brown. Brown’s scoring has stabilized Boston’s offensive output amid roster fluctuations throughout the year.
- Boston’s injury report is notable. Jayson Tatum remains out with an Achilles issue and Josh Minott is sidelined as well. Payton Pritchard is listed as doubtful, potentially placing more ball-handling and scoring responsibilities on Simons, Brown, and Derrick White. Boston still ranks among the league’s best teams in net efficiency, with a defense that limits opponents to 110.2 points per game.
- The Hawks (20-23) are in the midst of a roster transformation, having recently traded Trae Young in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Though McCollum has put up solid scoring numbers off the bench, Atlanta’s overall performance has been inconsistent. The team is hampered by significant absences, including Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher. Atlanta has dropped two straight games and they will try to stop the bleeding tonight.
- Atlanta’s home record has been underwhelming (7-11) and this is Atlanta’s first game back home after a four-game road trip. Without a full complement of starters, Atlanta’s defense has struggled to slow high-caliber offenses like Boston’s.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first of four regular-season matchups between the Celtics and Hawks this year.
- Boston is 22-18 against the spread going into this matchup.
- The Hawks enter Saturday night with a record of 21-22 against the spread.
- The under is 23-17 in Celtics games this season.
- Atlanta is 22-21 to the over for the year.
Celtics vs Hawks Model Projection
Final Thoughts
