Friday’s NBA odds see the Boston Celtics entering a rematch with the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center favored by 3½ points favorites, a road bet to take.
After an off night on Thanksgiving, the NBA returns with a vengeance Friday with 13 games on tap. According to the NBA odds, courtesy of The Action Network, it is the matinee game that might provide the best shot at a win.
At noon Eastern on Friday, the Boston Celtics visit the Brooklyn Nets as 3½-point favorites at Barclays Center to complete a home-and-home series that started with Boston’s 121-110 win at home on Wednesday night.
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Even without the drama of the Celtics fan base booing Kyrie Irving, their former All-NBA point guard who wasn’t even in the building on Wednesday, Boston would be a decent bet in this one, with a 6-3-1 record against the spread on the road this season.
Kemba Walker torched Brooklyn for a season-high 39 points as the Celtics continue to play well, now 13-4 overall on the season, with Walker sliding ably into the void created in Boston by Irving’s departure as a free agent last summer.
Before being swept in their two meeting at Barclays Center last season, the Celtics had won five straight at Brooklyn and while Boston is just 2-5 against the spread in those game, the Nets will be without Irving for the eighth straight game, while Caris LeVert will miss his 10th game in a row.
The Nets hung around against the Celtics until Boston broke away with a run late in the third quarter. Boston continues to be without Gordon Hayward, still recovering from a fractured left hand, and rookie Romeo Langford, who is nursing a sprained right ankle.
Another line to grab is the Toronto Raptors, who are 3½-point favorites on the road against the Orlando Magic, with the Raptors 7-2 overall against the Magic at Amway Center over their last nine games there (including playoffs), going 4-5 against the spread.
Toronto is 4-5 against the spread on the road this season, but against the banged-up Magic, missing All-Star Nikola Vucevic while Aaron Gordon is doubtful to play — both due to right ankle injuries — the Raptors should have enough to get it done. They’ve won five straight and are 8-2 over their last 10 games.
The rest of Friday’s slate with injury reports and relevant ATS records includes:
Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons (minus 7½)
Against the spread: Charlotte 9-9-1 overall, 4-5-1 road; Detroit 6-11-1 overall, 5-3 home.
Charlotte injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Robert Franks (G-League), Caleb Martin (G-League), Jalen McDaniels (G-League), Kobi Simmons (G-League); PROBABLE-Malik Monk (sprained left fifth finger), Cody Zeller (left hip contusion).
Detroit injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Jordan Bone (G-League), Sekou Doumbouya (G-League), Reggie Jackson (stress reaction, left lumber spine), Louis King (G-League), Khyri Thomas (right foot surgery).
Philadelphia 76ers (minus 7½) at New York Knicks
Against the spread: Philadelphia 9-9 overall, 5-5 road; New York 9-9 overall, 4-5 home.
Philadelphia injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Jonah Bolden (G-League), Al Horford (rest), Kyle O’Quinn (strained left calf); DOUBTFUL: Josh Richardson (right hamstring tightness); QUESTIONABLE: Shake Milton (upper respiratory illness, G-League assignment)
New York injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Kadeem Allen (G-League), Reggie Bullock (cervical disc herniation in neck), Elfrid Payton (strained right hamstring), Ivan Rabb (G-League).
Milwaukee Bucks (minus 10) at Cleveland Cavaliers
Against the spread: Milwaukee 8-10 overall, 5-5 road; Cleveland 7-9-2 overall, 3-5-1 home.
Milwaukee injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (flu), Sterling Brown (sprained right AC joint), Kyle Korver (right elbow soreness), Cameron Reynolds (G-League); PROBABLE: George Hill (back soreness).
Cleveland injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Tyler Cook (G-League), John Henson (strained right hamstring), Dean Wade (G-League), Dylan Windler (stress reaction, left lower leg).
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (minus 12½)
Against the spread: Golden State 9-9-1 overall, 5-5 road; Miami 12-4-1 overall, 7-0 home.
Golden State injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Stephen Curry (fractured left hand), Jacob Evans (strained left adductor), Damion Lee (G-League), Kevon Looney (neuropathy), D’Angelo Russell (sprained right thumb), Alen Smailagic (G-League), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation).
Miami injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Derrick Jones Jr. (strained left hip), Daryl Macon (G-League), KZ Okpala (strained left Achilles), Dion Waiters (team suspension); QUESTIONABLE: Jimmy Butler (head; illness).
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (minus 10½)
Against the spread: Atlanta 8-10 overall, 3-6 road; Indiana 8-7-2 overall, 5-3-2 home.
Atlanta injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Charles Brown Jr. (G-League), John Collins (league suspension), Brandon Goodwin (G-League), Kevin Huerter (strained left rotator cuff); QUESTIONABLE: Cam Reddish (sprained left wrist).
Indiana injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Brian Bowen II (G-League), Naz Mitrou-Long (G-League), Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab), Edmond Sumner (fractured right hand); DOUBTFUL: JaKarr Sampson (sore lower back).
New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder (minus 4)
Against the spread: New Orleans 9-8 overall, 3-5 road; Oklahoma City 10-7 overall, 6-3 home.
New Orleans injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Lonzo Ball (stomach virus), Zylan Cheatham (G-League), Derrick Favors (personal), Josh Gray (two-way), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Zion Williamson (right knee scope).
Oklahoma City injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Hamidou Diallo (hyperextended/sprained right elbow), Andre Roberson (left knee injury recovery).
Utah Jazz (minus 7) at Memphis Grizzlies
Against the spread: Utah 7-11 overall, 3-6 road; Memphis 7-10 overall, 5-6 home.
Utah injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Jarrell Brantley (G-League), Justin Wright-Foreman (G-League); QUESTIONABLE: Ed Davis (fractured left fibula).
Memphis injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G-League), John Konchar (G-League), Yuta Watanabe (G-League); QUESTIONABLE: Kyle Anderson (sore right heel).
LA Clippers (minus 6) at San Antonio Spurs
Against the spread: LA 9-9 overall, 2-5 road; San Antonio 4-15 overall, 1-9 home.
LA injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Amir Coffey (G-League), Mfiondu Kabengele (G-League), Rodney McGruder (strained right hamstring), Landry Shamet (high left ankle sprain).
San Antonio injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Keldon Johnson (G-League), Chimezie Metu (sore left foot), Luka Samanic (G-League), Quinndary Weatherspoon (G-League); AVAILABLE: Patty Mills (sore left foot).
Dallas Mavericks (minus 1½) at Phoenix Suns
Against the spread: Dallas 9-8 overall, 5-2 road; Phoenix 10-7 overall, 6-5 home.
Dallas injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Antonius Cleveland (G-League), Josh Reaves (G-League), Isaiah Roby (G-League); PROBABLE: Dorian Finney-Smith (strained right finger), Kristaps Porzingis (sore right knee).
Phoenix injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Deandre Ayton (league suspension), Jared Harper (G-League), Ty Jerome (sprained right ankle), Jalen Lecque (G-League); PROBABLE: Aron Baynes (strained right hip flexor), Ricky Rubio (back spasms).
Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers (minus 7½)
Against the spread: Chicago 7-12 overall, 3-6 road; Portland 9-10 overall, 2-4 home.
Chicago injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Cristiano Felicio (fractured right wrist), Chandler Hutchison (sprained right shoulder), Adam Mokoka (G-League), Otto Porter Jr. (bone bruise in left foot); PROBABLE: Ryan Arcidiacono (sprained right elbow), Tomas Satoransky (left toe contusion).
Portland injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic (fractured left leg); PROBABLE: Gary Trent Jr. (strained right hamstring).
Washington Wizards at Los Angeles Lakers (minus 11)
Against the spread: Washington 10-5-1 overall, 6-2-1 road; Los Angeles 10-7 overall, 6-3 home.
Washington injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Ian Mahinmi (strained right Achilles), C.J. Miles (injured ligament in left wrist), Justin Robinson (G-League), Admiral Schofield (G-League), John Wall (left Achilles rehab).
Los Angeles injuries (as of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern): OUT: Kostas Antetokounmpo (G-League), Avery Bradley (hairline fracture in right leg), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehab), Talen Horton-Tucker (G-League), Zach Norvell Jr. (G-League); PROBABLE: Anthony Davis (sore right shoulder).