The Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon in an Eastern Conference matchup between teams on different trajectories. The Celtics (38-27) have been rolling, winning 13 of their last 15 behind one of the NBA's best defenses. The Nets (32-32) are floundering, but superstar Kevin Durant just returned Thursday after missing 21 games. 

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as a 4.5-point favorite in its latest Nets vs. Celtics odds, and the Over-Under for total points is set at 226. (Check out our NBA odds page for up-to-date odds on every game available). 

Before you lock in any Celtics vs. Nets picks, you HAVE 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 19 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 71-44 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning more than $2,100. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns.

The Celtics lead the NBA in opponent field-goal percentage (43 percent) and are allowing less than 104 points per game (fourth). Jayson Tatum has scored 70 points over the past two games, and he is averaging 26 points per contest. Boston is fourth in point differential (plus-5.4), while the Nets are being outscored by just under one point per game (17th). Marcus Smart is a force on both ends for the Celtics, leading the team with 5.5 assists while getting 1.7 steals (fifth in NBA), and center Robert Williams blocks 2.2 shots (T-1).    

Meanwhile, Durant will try to get things going in the right direction for the Nets. He scored 31 points in his return game, a 113-107 loss to Miami, and is averaging 29.3 points in 37 games. He is short of the qualifying threshold, but that number would rank him third in the league in scoring. The team went 5-16 in the games Durant missed, and Kyrie Irving (21.5. points) also should suit up in the road game. Seth Curry, acquired in the James Harden trade, is averaging 16.6 points and is one of nine Brooklyn players scoring at least eight.

The model has broken down the Celtics vs. Nets matchup from every angle, and we can tell you it is leaning Over the total. It also shows that one side of the spread has all the value! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NBA picks.

Who wins Nets vs. Celtics on Sunday afternoon? And which side of the spread has all the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Celtics vs. Nets spread you should be all over Sunday, all from the model on a 71-44 roll on NBA picks!