Game Time: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, December 27th, 2021 

Venue:  Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: PK; 

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

Celtics: 16-17, 9th place Eastern Conference

Timberwolves: 15-17, 9th place Western Conference

A matchup of 9th place opponents from different conferences.  Christmas Day is over… the season is supposed to switch gears and become much more intense.  Both these squads have good reasons to move up in the standings… you can’t and shouldn’t hang around in the playoff tournament area of the standings.  The goal is to get far above or far below.  If you have what it takes to make the real playoffs…. You have to prove it now.  If you don’t have what it takes to make the real playoffs… you have to secure the dest draft odds starting now.  Also both these lineups could use a big trade if they want the second half of the season to be as productive as possible.  So?... Will the Celtics trade SG Jaylen Brown and pieces for a bigger player to play with Jayson Tatum?… or will the Timberwolves finally trade C Karl-Anthony Towns and give the team to SG Anthony Edwards with some picks and role players to work toward a brighter future?  It’s all drama.

The Boston Celtics lost on Christmas Day to last year’s NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo and his back-up dancers the Milwaukee Bucks 117-113.  Boston won against the point spread (Bucks -7.5) and the game registered an Over. Boston is 4-6 over their last ten games with losses to the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and of course the Bucks.  The trend there is simply that the Celtics don’t seem to beat teams with a better star leader.  (games were missed to covid-19 by everybody, so it is not a flawless system).  

The Minnesota Timberwolves last played on Dec. 23rd.  They aren’t the type of team that ever gets the nod to play on Christmas Day.  They are also 4-6 over their last ten games.  They have beaten the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Portland Trailblazers… the glaring bit of knowledge from the T-wolves last ten games is of course that the Wolves can lose to everyone and every now and then can beat anyone.  They have talent.  Real, honest to goodness, talent.  Young, Athletic, likes long walks on the beach, talent.  They just never win enough for anyone to care.  The Timberwolves have 6 players on the Covid list and all of them are quality top of the rotation guys if not outright starters (SG Anthony Edwards, PG D'Angelo Russell, SF Jarred Vanderbilt)... but 5 of them are expected to test back in before game time.. So there is no guarantee over who will show up for game time. This makes it a tricky betting opportunity.. The T-Wolves aren’t a great team WITH everybody… and still they could be 1-3 guys short.

Al McMordie took it on the chin on Christmas, as his hot streak came to an end, so he looks to bounce back on Sunday. Today, Big Al's unloading in the NBA on this High Roller Winner out of a 73% ATS angle. Don't miss out on the hardwood $$$$. Hop on board right now!. Go get it! Get Big Al’s picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Celtics are 16-17 on the season, but 18-14-1 ATS.  They have logged 14 Overs, 18 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 7-11 in road games.

The Timberwolves are 15-17 on the season, but 16-16 ATS.  They have notched 17 Overs and 15 Unders.  They are 9-9 in home games.

The Celtics are 14th in the NBA in points with 108.5 per, 11th in rebounds with 45.6 per, and 17th in AST/TO ratio with 1.6 per.  They are struggling with shots form the field ranking only 22nd in FG% and 23rd in 3PT%... the free throw line earn them a couple extra points per game as they are 4th in FT% at 80.9%. 

The Timberwolves are 13th in points with 108.8 per, 15th in rebounds with 45.1 per, and 25th in AST/TO ratio with 1.5.  They are also a tragic shooting team: 27th in FG%, 20th in 3PT%, and 17th in FT%.

 

Our prediction for Monday, December 27th is…. Timberwolves 111 - Celtics 107

The Timberwolves have the advantage of not playing or traveling during the Christmas weekend.  The Cletics find themselves with 11 players on the Covid list with only 3-4 even eligible to test back in.  The Celticas have the advantage of having more starters… but they have almost no one on the bench whose name you might know.

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Boston is 2-0 ATS versus Minny over the last 3 seasons.

Boston is 2-0 ATS versus Minny at Minny over the last 3 seasons.

Boston is 26-20 ATS versus Minny since 1996.

Celtics: C Al Horford (covid) Out ** PG Dennis Schroder (covid) Out (should have taken the Lakers contract!) ** C Enes Freedom (covid) (formerly Ennis Kanter) Questionable)... all total the Celtics have 11 guys that will be waiting for test results with only a few of them even eligible to get back in if they test negative.

The Timberwolves have six guys: D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Josh Okogie, Taureen Prince, Anthony Edwards… All of them except for D’Angelo are just a negative test away from being back in the line-up.

Celtics: F Jayson Tatum, F Romeo Langford, C Robert Williams, SG Jaylen Brown, PG Marcus Smart….  Romeo Langford is playing deeply out of position as he is better suited to be a shooting guard.

Timberwolves: SF Jaden McDamiels, PF Jake Layman, C Naz Reid, PG D’Angelo Russell, SG Malik Beasley

Celtics

Points: Jayson Tatum 25.6

Assists: Marcus Smart 5.5

Rebounds: Jayson Tatum 8.6

Steals: Marcus Smart 2.0

Blocks: Robert Williams 1.6

Timberwolves

Points: Karl-Anthony Towns 24.5

Assists: D’Angelo Russell 6.7

Rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns 9.1

Steals: Anthony Edwards 1.6

Blocks: Karl-Anthony Towns 1.1

Celtics: Ime Udoka

Timberwolves: Chris Finch