Long-time rivals meet when the Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Celtics as 15-point favorites, while the over/under is 239 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page). Before making any Lakers vs. Celtics 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 five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 15 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 48-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning over $1,700. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns!

The model knows the Lakers are in the top three of the NBA in fast break points (17.6 per game) and points in the paint (55.0 per game). Los Angeles is also in the top eight in both field goal percentage and 2-point percentage. The Lakers shot 41% from 3-point range in the first matchup against Boston, and Los Angeles is averaging more than 28 assists per game. Los Angeles is also elite in free throw prevention on defense and free throw creation on offense.

The model also knows the Celtics have a tremendous defense. Boston is allowing only 1.11 points per possession, ranking No. 3 in the NBA. The Celtics lead the league in free throw prevention and blocked shots, with a top-five mark in assist prevention. Boston is also in the top five in opponent field goal percentage, opponent 2-point percentage, and opponent 3-point percentage. 

Now, it has set its sights on Lakers vs. Celtics. We can tell you the model is leaning Under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NBA picks.

Who wins Lakers vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Lakers vs. Celtics spread you should be all over Thursday, all from the model on a roll on NBA picks!