The Celtics have a shot at sweeping the Nets on Monday night, though oddsmakers have the Nets listed as slight favorites. Let’s take a look at the matchup ahead of Game 4.
Celtics-Nets Odds
- Spread: Nets -1.5 (-105)
- Total: 220.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Celtics -105
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Watch: fuboTV
- Odds via PointsBet
Celtics Frontcourt Update
Boston’s defense is the major storyline and Robert Williams, who played 16 minutes in his return to the lineup on Saturday, further enhances it.
Ben Simmons Update
After reports that he may suit up in Game 4, Ben Simmons has been ruled out for Monday night after experiencing back soreness as he attempted to ramp up. The Nets list his reason for being out as “return to competition reconditioning/back soreness,” which is the same as it has been for the past few weeks.
Betting Prop to Watch
- Al Horford – Under 7.5 rebounds (-115)
Horford has given the team everything they would want during Williams’ absence. The former Sixer is +22 in 102 minutes played this series and Williams’ presence should now allow Ime Udoka to ease up a bit on Horford’s run.
The big man had just three rebounds in Game 3 and after nabbing six in Game 2 and 15 in Game 1. On the season, he’s at 7.7 rebounds per game but while this may seem like a toss-up, I’ll take the under given Horford’s averages and the chances the Celtics are able to cut back a bit on his minutes in Game 4.
It’s worth noting that if the Celtics take care of business in Game 4, they should have a nice mini-break between the end of this series and the start of the next one (Milwaukee’s potential closeout Game 5 is on Wednesday night).
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Brooklyn’s Best Chance on Monday Night?
There’s one pretty obvious adjustment that the Nets can make heading into Game 4 and Matt Moore of The Action Network has been pretty much writing about it for a week now: get Andre Drummond off the floor.
Steve Nash did so in Game 3 by giving Blake Griffin some run, though Griffin was -4 during his action on Saturday night. Moore wonders whether LaMarcus Aldridge will be the answer in Game 4; either way, Nic Claxton should start and get as much run as possible at the five.
