NBA Picks: Nets vs Celtics NBA Odds – February 5, 2010: While the Atlantic Division leading (31-16) Boston Celtics [-12] will be looking to make it three straight wins, the last place (4-44) New Jersey Nets [+12] will try to avoid losing a fifth straight tonight. These division foes are set to tipoff at 7:40 PM ET (4:40 PM PT) live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. According to NBA Odds makers at BETUS.com, the OVER/UNDER between the Nets and Celtics has been set at a combined total of 188 points scored tonight.
Boston is coming off a 107-102 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday without the services of forward Paul Pierce. The 8-time NBA All Star has been listed as day-to-day after suffering a sprained left foot on Monday’s win over the Washington Wizards. According to Doc Rivers, Pierce will likely miss tonight’s contest against the lowly Nets, but could perhaps be suiting up for Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic.
"It plays with the rhythm of your team," The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett said. "For the most part, we haven't even been at full strength. Second half of the season, we're looking forward to getting a lot more practice time."
For the Nets, they’ll be doing whatever they can to avoid losing a third straight game against their division rivals. New Jersey is coming off a 108-99 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. The Nets are a league-worst 1-24 on the road this season and 1-9 when facing teams within the Atlantic Division.
"For most of the game I thought we were pretty good," coach Kiki Vandeweghe said. "It's those lapses, a couple of minutes of a time, that hurt us tonight."
