Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets: NBA Saturday Predictions

• We have expert analysis for Saturday’s marquee match-up between the Rockets and Celtics, as well as straight up picks for all seven games on tap.
• Can the Rockets push their current winning streak to 15 in a row?
• The Celtics look hot out of the All-Star break. Can they keep it going against Houston?

The NBA’s hottest team makes its way to ABC’s primetime Saturday showcase (8:30pm ET), when the surging Houston Rockets (48-13, 24-6 home) host the Boston Celtics (44-19, 21-8 away).

Houston notched its 14th straight win against the Clippers Thursday, matching their season-best win streak. They also completed the first perfect month of any team in the Association, going 12-0 in February (on a side note,  the Phoenix Suns, completed a bizarro Rockets, going 0-12 the same month).

Houston is a surreal 32-1 when the trio of Chris Paul, James Harden and Clint Capela are in the lineup.

Perhaps no team is better at using its star pieces to the best of their abilities, which is why Houston is a surreal 32-1 when the trio of Chris Paul, James Harden and Clint Capela are in the lineup.

It’s a heavy dose of Harden or Paul working a pick and roll up top with Capela. If they use the screen and attack right away, there’s tremendous strain on the defense. If you don’t stop the initial drive, it’s a layup. If you help and your rotations aren’t crisp, there are shooters dotting the three-point arc ready to launch.

That’s if they attack right away. If the play ends in a switch, then it’s just an unmatched big left on an island, with two of the deadliest one-on-one players on the planet sizing them up. It’s not a pretty sight.

Fortunately, the Celtics are a team that can, in theory, combat that attack. They bring an abundance of excellent defence on the perimeter, led by Marcus Smart, rookie Jayson Tatum and second-year pro Jaylen Brown. Big men Al Horford and Marcus Morris have some guile and savvy if left on a switch.

But that might not be where this game will be decided. Apart from Kyrie Irving, this is a squad that struggles to put together long stretches of sustained offence.

Despite owning the fourth best record in basketball, it’s becoming painfully apparent that they’re likely not equipped to contend for a title, let alone contend for the conference crown.

Standing pat at the deadline could mean that Gordon Hayward may be coming back, or that Boston decided this wasn’t going to be the year, but they’ll sell it like it is as they like the current roster and will take their chances as is.

Is this a potential NBA Finals preview? It would have to take an awful lot of luck for this particular match-up, but it’s a fun look at two teams that should be on the marquee for the next few years.

Team Stats

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Head-to-Head Results

Notable Injuries and Absences

Team Trends

Prediction: Rockets (111-102)

Houston is competing at an extremely high level at the moment. Prior to the win against the Clippers, they put an end to the 11-game fun ride enjoyed by the Jazz. Despite lacking that third star, head coach Mike D’Antoni relishes the fact that he has Grade-A point guard play for a full 48 minutes. In the regular season, it’s proven to be enough to overwhelm most teams.

Boston’s defence, despite being near the top of the rankings, doesn’t look like the same suffocating unit early on in the season – or even the same one that put the clamps on the Rockets in a 99-98 win in Boston in December.

Enjoy two of the best ball handlers showcase in this one, as Kyrie and Paul will go at it and dazzle.

Enjoy two of the best ball handlers showcase in this one, as Kyrie and Paul will go at it and dazzle. As is the case much of the season, Harden will be the difference, and a relatively close game through three quarters will open up in Houston’s favour as the Celtics struggle to find buckets in the fourth.

Straight-Up Picks (March 3)

The King, Russ, PG and ‘Melo and the Donovan Mitchell-led Jazz also hit the hardwood on Saturday night. Be sure to check in closer to game time, as the moneylines, point spreads, and over/unders for these games will be available soon. Feeling lucky? Roll the dice on hoops by visiting one of these sportsbooks.