The Brooklyn Nets host the Boston Celtics in a high-profile matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. Boston is favored by nine points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the Over-Under is set at 214.5 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page). 

Before making any Celtics vs. Nets picks, you NEED to check out the NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 69-41 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,300. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows the Celtics have the best point differential in the Eastern Conference, and the team's defense is the No. 1 reason. Boston ranks No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rating, giving up 104.9 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics lead the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed and 2-point percentage allowed, with Boston also setting the bar in allowing only 21.6 assists per game. The Celtics are in the top two in both blocked shots and points allowed in the paint, with top-10 rankings in turnovers created, second-chance points allowed, fast-break points allowed and 3-point defense.

The model also knows the Nets are above-average on the offensive end. Brooklyn is scoring more than 1.11 points per possession, and that number is even higher when the roster is anything approaching full health. The Nets are No. 6 in the NBA in field-goal percentage, making 46.7 percent of shots, and Brooklyn is also No. 6 in free-throw accuracy at 80.6 percent. Brooklyn creates 24.8 assists per game, ranking in the top 10 of the NBA, and the Nets are securing 27.4 percent of available rebounds on the offensive glass this season.

Now, it has set its sights on Celtics vs. Nets. We can tell you the model is leaning under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NBA picks.

Who wins Celtics vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Celtics vs. Nets spread you should be all over Thursday, all from the model on a roll on NBA picks!