Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/04/2024, 17:30  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 14/04/2024 at 05:00 in NBA Prediction

The Boston Celtics will play host to the Washington Wizards in their final match of the NBA regular season on Sunday. The hosts are currently 63-18 and lead the Eastern Conference while the visitors are 15-66 and 14th in the Conference standings. 

The Boston Celtics have secured the number seed in the Eastern Conference and have been coasting since securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs in early April. With their first-round playoff opponent yet to be determined, the Celtics have often rested key players in recent games. Despite sitting out their top six players in their latest matchup against Charlotte, they still secured a convincing 131-98 home victory, led by Payton Pritchard's 31 points and 11 assists, with contributions from Luke Cornet and Sam Hauser, who each added 16 points. Boston has been strong on both ends of the court this season, ranking second in scoring offense (120.4) and fifth in defense (109.1). With a decisive victory of 130-104 against their upcoming opponent last month, the Celtics enter the game as clear favorites.

The Washington Wizards, currently on a five-game losing streak, will aim to conclude their season on a positive note as they face the Boston Celtics in the final game of the NBA's regular season. With a record of 15-66, the Wizards were the first team in the Eastern Conference to be eliminated from playoff contention, trailing only the Detroit Pistons (14-67) for the worst record in the league. A key focus for the offseason will be addressing their coaching situation, with Brian Keefe serving as interim head coach until replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. in January. In their recent 129-127 loss to the Chicago Bulls, the Wizards fielded a young lineup, with Patrick Baldwin Jr. contributing 18 points and 12 rebounds, while rookie Tristan Vukcevic achieved a career-high 19 points. Despite their desire to end the season positively, they face a tough challenge against the dominant Celtics.