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The Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics will meet in the NBA preseason tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The game will be broadcast live on NBCS-BOS.
The Celtics are favored by -6.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 224.5 (-116o / -105u). Celtics are a -260 favorite to win outright, while the Hornets are +210 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks.
Hornets vs. Celtics Prediction
Hornets vs Celtics Pick: Hornets Moneyline (+205)
My Hornets vs Celtics best bet is on the Hornets to win outright, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Hornets vs Celtics Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -120 | 224.5 -118o / -106u | +205 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -102 | 224.5 -118o / -106u | -250 |
- Hornets vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -6.5 (-113 ), Hornets +6.5 (-107)
- Hornets vs. Celtics over/under: 224.5 (-116o / -105u)
- Hornets vs. Celtics moneyline: Hornets +210, Celtics -260
Hornets vs Celtics NBA Preseason Preview
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The Hornets enter this season with a new look. Charlotte finished 44-38 last season, ninth in the Eastern Conference, and is now preparing for life without LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, who were both traded in the offseason.
Even shorthanded, the Hornets showed on Sunday what this group can do. Without key players including Kon Knueppel and Coby White, they rolled past the Bucks 105-90, building a 20-point halftime lead and keeping control for most of the second half.
Brandon Miller made his preseason debut after missing time with a shin contusion and looked sharp. He finished with 18 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a block in 22 minutes, hitting 4 of 9 from three, while Naz Reid added 16.
Charlotte’s up-tempo attack did most of the damage, and the Hornets also scrapped, taking charges, fighting for offensive rebounds, and making the extra pass to find open shooters on the perimeter. That kind of effort travels well in exhibition play.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Celtics, meanwhile, are 2-0 this preseason. They opened with a 124-113 win in Cleveland, where Luka Garza put up 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Boston followed that with a 144-106 win over the 76ers, the highest-scoring preseason win in franchise history, with Jayson Tatum scoring 23 and Payton Pritchard 25.
That margin needs context. Philadelphia played without LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, so Boston’s blowout came against a heavily depleted roster.
The Celtics are also clearly in evaluation mode: Joe Mazzulla handed coaching duties for each half of the opener to assistants Tony Dobbins and D.J. MacLeay.
Hornets vs. Celtics Pick, Betting Analysis
Evan Abram's Outright 'Dog system isolates an edge by targeting preseason underdogs coming off middle-tier seasons in games the market expects to be high-scoring.
In NBA exhibition play, moneylines often create value on underdogs that were competitive but not dominant the previous season. Starters play uncertain minutes, and coaches lean heavily on reserves, which shrinks the talent gap reflected in regular-season records.
A closing total of 205 or higher signals enough scoring to add volatility, giving these middle-tier teams a chance to stay competitive deep into games and turn underdog spots into outright wins.
This setup applies directly to tonight’s matchup in Boston. Charlotte comes off a 44-win season, right in the system’s sweet spot, and the 224.5 total clears the scoring threshold easily. Boston’s perfect preseason start, including a record-setting blowout of a shorthanded Philadelphia team, has pushed this price further than an exhibition game warrants.
With Mazzulla’s starters likely on a short leash and Charlotte’s depth coming off an impressive showing against Milwaukee, this game should be decided by the benches. Grabbing a big plus price in that environment provides real value.
Best Bet: Hornets Moneyline (+205, FanDuel)
Celtics vs Hornets Betting Trends
