The Atlanta Hawks will host the Boston Celtics in a prime-time showdown on Thursday. The Hawks and Celtics will reunite for Game 6 of a first-round series in the 2023 NBA playoffs, with Boston leading 3-2. Atlanta picked up a 119–117 win in Game 5 to stay alive in the series, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter in the process. That sets the stage for what will be the only game in the NBA on Thursday, with the Celtics looking to advance and the Hawks looking for a Game 7 on Saturday.
Tipoff is in Atlanta at 8:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as the 6.5-point favorite on the road, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas believes to score, is 232 in the last Celtics vs. Hawk odds. Before you watch a Hawks vs. Celtics pick, be sure to check out the NBA playoff predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine projection model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has generated more than $10,000 in winnings for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four seasons. The model entered the third week of the 2023 NBA playoffs with a stunning 71-38 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, netting nearly $2,800. Anyone who follows it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Hawks and his picks and NBA playoff predictions captured. You can now go to SportsLine to see the model choices. Here are various NBA odds and bets for Hawks vs. Celtics:
- Celtic vs. Hawks spread: Celtics -6.5
- Celtic vs. Hawks over/under: 232 points
- Celtic vs. Hawks moneyline: Celtics -260, Hawks +210
- BOS: The Celtics are 23-20 against the spread in road games
- ATL: The Hawks are 19-24 against the spread in home games
- Celtic vs. Hawks picks: See picks on SportsLine
Recommended game | Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has been the better team in the series, winning the battle in stats at both ends of the floor. The Celtics score 1.16 points per possession in the series behind No. 2 in the NBA with 1.17 points per possession during the regular season. Boston shoots 51.3% from the field and 39.8% from 3-point range in the series, and that comes after the Celtics ranked in the league’s top six in 2-point shooting and 3-point shooting in the regular season . The Celtics averaged 28.0 assists per game against the Hawks, and Boston averaged 14.6 quick break points and 54.4 points in the paint per game.
Jaylen Brown is arguably the best player in the series, averaging 25.2 points per game on 54.2% shooting and 44% from 3-point range. That includes 33.0 points per game on 60% shooting over the last two games, and Brown scored 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game during the regular season. With the Celtics facing a below-average Hawks defense, the door is open for continued efficiency on offense. See which way to go back at SportsLine.
Why the Hawks can cover
The Hawks are led by a dynamic backcourt, headlined by Game 5 hero Trae Young. Young scored the final 14 points of the game for Atlanta to finish with 38 points and 13 assists in the game. Young has averaged 35 points and 12.3 assists per game in his last three appearances, leading the NBA in total assists during the regular season. The Hawks also get Dejounte Murray back from suspension in Game 6, and he averages 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the series.
That pairing forms an offense that ranked in the NBA’s top eight in offensive rating (115.5) during the regular season and in the league’s top four in offensive rating (120.1) after the All-Star break. The Hawks also put up over 1.2 points per possession over the past three games, shooting 48.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range. Atlanta takes care of the ball well, making 12.6% turnovers of possession this season, and Boston’s main defensive weakness is turnovers and creating chaos. See which way to go back at SportsLine.
How Hawks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine’s model is underweight on the point total, as no individual player reaches the 28-point plateau in the simulations. The model also says that one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can see the model choices on SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60% of the simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the model that’s 71-38 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.