Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets: Starting lineups, odds, and advice for wagering | January 13, 2024

On Saturday, the Boston Celtics (29-9) will visit the Houston Rockets (19-18). Ime Udoka, who guided Boston to the NBA Finals in his one and only season as the team’s head coach, is making a comeback with this game.

Last season, the organization suspended and eventually terminated Udoka for violating organizational standards.The game is being played on the second night of a back-to-back for Houston. Boston enters the contest fresh off a crushing loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets: Game information, forecast, and betting advice
Details of the GameTeams: Boston Celtics (29-9) against. Houston Rockets (19-18)Date and Time: Jan. 13, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. Venue: Boston’s TD Garden
Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets: PreviewThe Boston Celtics have a completely healthy roster going into their matchup with the Houston Rockets. Given their hectic schedule over the last week, they will definitely be trying to bounce back in the win column and demonstrate that the Milwaukee Bucks’ thrashing of them in the first half was an aberration.

As the Rockets prepare to play on the second night of a back-to-back, they have not yet made their injury report public. However, against the Detroit Pistons, star forward Dillon Brooks will return, who has been sidelined since December 26 with a right abdominal oblique strain, according to sources. Tari Eason and Victor Oladipo are most likely to miss action due of injury.

Starting lineups for the Boston Celtics against. Houston RocketsThe Boston Celtics starting lineup may look like this: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis.Recently, Derrick White has had some setbacks. Boston will be hoping that their excellent guard can recover and start having the same kind of effect that we saw from him at the start of the year.The Houston Rockets starting lineup may look like this: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Jae’Sean Tate and Alperen Sengun.

The Houston Rockets starting lineup may look like this: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Jae’Sean Tate and Alperen Sengun.The kind of guard the Celtics often have trouble stopping is Jalen Green. Swift, powerful, and tremendously explosive. The Celtics defense will probably put a lot of focus on Green.
Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets: Pregame adviceJayson Tatum has chances of -110 to score more than 26.5 points when he plays the Houston Rockets. The All-NBA forward has scored over 26.5 in six of his past 10 games, including his takeover effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. He’s -125 on the under as well.

The chances on Alperen Sengun scoring more than 22.5 points against the Boston Celtics are -102. Although he has accomplished this in seven of his previous ten games, he could have trouble finding scoring opportunities up against the NBA’s second-best defense. Sengun is underdog by -105.
Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets: PredictionThe Boston Celtics have a great advantage against the Houston Rockets in this game. They have a money line of -1150 and a spread of -15. The availability of their whole roster will benefit Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff greatly. It will be challenging for the Rockets to defend in space with their five-out attacking style.

Conversely, Houston may enter the game with worn-out legs. After their game against Detroit on Friday, they had to travel, and they now had to play perhaps the best squad in the league. It is therefore understandable why Boston is anticipated to earn a convincing victory over their former head coach.