The Boston Celtics couldn't have looked much better in Monday night's 134-99 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls. After dropping their season opener, Boston has now won two straight -- and the latest victory was never in doubt, as the Celtics dominated both ends of the floor. Payton Pritchard caught fire with 28 points, while Jayson Tatum once again controlled the offense before exiting early with the game well in hand. More importantly, Boston was able to limit the workload of its key players -- with nobody logging more than 27 minutes, which could prove valuable on the second night of a back-to-back. There is still some uncertainty surrounding whether veterans like Paul George will play both games of back-to-backs throughout the season -- but in the very early stages of the season, Boston may opt to keep its regular rotation intact.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, has stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3 record; the defense has been the biggest concern. The Nets are allowing well over 120 points per game while struggling to contain dribble penetration, defend the three-point line, and communicate effectively in transition. Those are all dangerous weaknesses against a Celtics offense that is beginning to find its rhythm after the opening night loss. Even if Boston rests one of its stars, the depth of this roster has already proven capable of generating offense from multiple sources, and head coach Joe Mazzulla's system continues to produce quality looks from beyond the arc. The 11-point spread feels a bit uncomfortable, especially with potential lineup uncertainty -- but Boston should still have little trouble creating offense against one of the league's worst defenses. Rather than laying the points, the stronger angle is backing the Celtics to continue their offensive surge and clear their team total.
Nets vs Celtics prediction: Boston TT Over 117.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 118.5.
