Matchup: Hornets (21-57) vs. Celtics (58-20)

Date & Time: Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 7:30 PM ET

Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Betting Line: Celtics -15.5 | Over/Under: 224.5

Key Storylines

Celtics Locking Up the #1 Seed: Boston continues to dominate the East and is in full control of the top playoff seed. With just a few games remaining, they could rest key players but are still considered heavy favorites at home.

Hornets Playing for Draft Position: Charlotte’s season is all but over as they sit near the bottom of the standings. With a poor road record and minimal motivation, the Hornets are just looking to finish strong and develop young talent.

Recent Form: The Celtics have won 8 of their last 10 games and remain one of the best home teams in the league. Meanwhile, the Hornets have dropped 6 of their last 8 and continue to struggle on both ends of the floor.

Injury Report

Hornets:
Out: LaMelo Ball (ankle), Mark Williams (back), Cody Martin (knee)
Questionable: Brandon Miller (hip)

Celtics:
Out: Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring), Sam Hauser (shoulder)
Rest Candidates: Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday (game-time decisions)

Betting Trends

Against the Spread (ATS):

Hornets: 29-46-3 ATS this season
Celtics: 39-36-3 ATS this season

Over/Under Trends:

The total has gone over in 5 of Charlotte’s last 8 games
The total has gone under in 4 of Boston’s last 6 home games

Home & Road Records:

Hornets: Just 9-30 on the road this season
Celtics: League-best 33-4 at home

Player Prop to Watch

Derrick White (Celtics) – Points Total: 17.5
With potential rest for stars like Tatum and Holiday, White could take on a bigger scoring load against a soft Hornets defense.

Miles Bridges (Hornets) – Rebounds Total: 7.5
Bridges has been active on the glass lately and may benefit from a faster pace if Boston shortens its rotation.

Prediction & Best Bets

Spread: Celtics -15.5 → Even with some potential rest candidates, Boston’s depth and home-court dominance should be enough to cover.

Total: Under 224.5 → Expect a lopsided game with slowed pace if Boston builds an early lead and cruises to the finish.

Player Prop: Derrick White Over 17.5 points → Look for White to see more usage with key players possibly sitting out.

Charlotte’s lack of offense and inability to stop perimeter scorers will be exposed by Boston’s deep rotation. The Celtics’ bench is still stronger than most starting fives, so expect a comfortable win even if the starters log fewer minutes.

Final Score Prediction: Celtics 117, Hornets 96