NBA
Boston Celtics vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
Kick Off Time: 07.30 pm, ET Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts SportsBoom previews the super-heavy weight match between the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on Wednesday, 12th March 2025. These teams gear up for a nail-biting end to the season that promises rewards and agony in equal measure. This box office matchup up is already in waiting for NBA betting fans and with this preview, they are assured of invaluable insights.
Jayson Tatum//Getty Images
The Celtics will be looking to avoid a seasonal sweep after losing their last contest 105-92 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. They are having a fantastic season, as they look for a repeat of back-to-back champions, a feat that would solidify them as one of the few modern day dynasties to have graced the league. They are second on the Eastern Conference standings with a 43-18 record to their name. This contest will pose a unique challenge to the Celtics because their opponents are one of the only two teams in the NBA to have a better record than them and also one of the few teams that match them pound-for-pound in talent and competitiveness.
On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the best team in the Western Conference as evidenced by their 49-11 record. They are a matchup nightmare for almost every team in the league and have a competitive young core that is ripe for challenging for the NBA title. OKC will hope to win this contest and deal a psychological blow to the Celtics, a team they may meet in the NBA Finals provided they emerge victorious in the sturdy West.
Surprisingly, the recent five matches between these two sides have witnessed home victories for the hosts, signifying a competitive spirit at play and the pride to defend their respective home turfs. For those looking to get in on the action, many sportsbooks offer a free signup bonus, providing a great opportunity to place wagers on this high-stakes showdown.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
To get high returns from your online betting experience, you can consider these pre-game odds:
Boston Celtics: 1/2 (1.50) – 66.7%
Oklahoma City Thunder: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event.
Head-to-Head Record
The Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder have played 146 games in the regular season with 79 victories for the Celtics and 67 victories for the Thunder. However, these two franchises have never met in the playoffs.
Over a recent five-game stretch, the Celtics have claimed two victories while the Thunder have three.
LAST FIVE MATCHES
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/2025 | January 5th 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder 105-92 Boston Celtics |
| 2023/2024 | April 3rd 2024 | Boston Celtics 135-100 Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2023/2024 | January 2nd 2024 | Oklahoma City Thunder 127-123 Boston Celtics |
| 2022/2023 | January 3rd 2023 | Oklahoma City Thunder 150-117 Boston Celtics |
| 2022/2023 | November 14th 2022 | Boston Celtics 126-122 Oklahoma City Thunder |
Boston Celtics: Current Form – WLLWW
- Overall Record: 43-18
- Home Record: 19-11
- Away Record: 24-7
The Celtics have a self-assured season so far, despite patchy lapses when they have emerged on the losing side. This was to be expected, with some of their players being involved in the Olympic games; the team also experiencing a championship hangover.
However, the Celtics have begun to kick into the next gear, with a playoff berth already guaranteed and only home court advantage yet to be attained. The roster talent is elite and healthy, as the coaching staff has done a tremendous job with rotations and rehabilitation of the players. Their championship experience will be a massive advantage, considering most of their challengers for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy are young and yet to get over the hump.
There are two glaring issues to note. First, the Celtics have performed better away from home than at the TD Garden, a worrying trend considering they were absolutely dominant in front of their adoring and raucous fans last season. Second, their league-leading ballooning three-point attempts are a pain to watch, especially when they end up as failed attempts.
Their starting unit and bench work harmoniously together, and the multiple weapons at their disposal enables them to be a matchup nightmare for many teams in the league.
Key Players to Watch
- Jason Tatum: Jason Tatum is having a MVP caliber season. Tatum is leading the team in points per game, rebounds and assists with 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He is a box office talent and is on pace for another 1st Team all NBA selection.
- Jaylen Brown: Jaylen Brown has been quietly going about his business and is the team’s second best player. He is capable of being the go-to guy in any given game, with his inside-out game and elite perimeter defense being an immense strength to the team.
- Payton Pritchard: Payton Pritchard is one of the most explosive scorers and playmakers of the bench in the NBA. He is averaging 13.9 points per game and 3.4 assists and is one of the reasons the Celtics have one of the best benches in the league.
Boston Celtics Team News
The Celtics have a clean bill of health for this matchup against Oklahoma City Thunder, as Kristaps Porziņģis is expected to return from illness and Jrue Holiday’s finger discomfort a minor day-to-day concern.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Current Form – WWWLW
- Overall Record: 49-11
- Home Record: 26-4
- Away Record: 23-7
It’s official that the Oklahoma City Thunder are problem for the league. OKC, alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers, are the two best teams in the NBA this season. They have steam-rolled through opponents with ease, with the only glaring question being if they can carry their regular season dominance into the playoffs.
The Thunder are one of the favorites to lift the NBA title in late June, and their roster composition one of the best with no weaknesses to highlight. Barring any major injuries, the OKC Thunder will definitely make noise in the postseason.
Head coach Mark Daigneault has done a remarkable job getting the best out of this young core of players who have taken the next leap in their development as individuals and as a unit.
This matchup against the defending champions is vital, as it offers a rare colossal test for a juggernaut of a team that is set to compete now and in the future.
Key Players to Watch
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the leading NBA score with 32.3 points per game. He is a bonified superstar and the favorite to claim the MVP. SGA will offer the Celtics massive problems with his scoring and playmaking considering he is virtually unguardable one-on-one.
- Jalen Williams: Jalen Williams’ development into a star has been rapid-fire. “J-DUB” has taken his game into a whole new level in his third season in the NBA with career highs in points, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals. After garnering his first All-Star selection, Williams has been in the form of his life since his return.
- Chet Holmgren: Chet Holmgren has returned from injury with a burning fire in his soul. Chet has been great since taking over as the starting power forward for the Thunder. He offers elite size and rebounding and his perimeter shooting has greatly improved.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team News
The Thunder will be without Isiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell for this contest.
Predicted Lineups
Boston Celtics Lineup
- Point Guard: Derrick White
- Shooting Guard: Jrue Holiday
- Small Forward: Jaylen Brown
- Power Forward: Jayson Tatum
- Center: Kristaps Porzingis
Oklahoma City Thunder Lineup
- Point Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Shooting Guard: Luguentz Dort
- Small Forward: Jalen Williams
- Power Forward: Chet Holmgren
- Center: Isaiah Hartenstein
Value Bets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Score Over 25 points: Shai is playing like a man possessed. He has been top-tier in the last fifteen games, making this outcome a piece of cake.
Jason Tatum to Score Over 25 points: He will be up for the challenge against one of his MVP rivals, Shai. Therefore, he will be looking to dominate the offense front.
Prediction: Celtics to win
Although they have a better away record, the Celtics will be looking to dominate the court as they have the home-court advantage.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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