NBA Odds: Injury-Riddled Celtics Narrow Home Favorites Against Wizards

The Boston Celtics will close out a two-game homestand Wednesday when they play host to the struggling Washington Wizards as 1.5-point favorites on the NBA odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Boston is coming off a costly 99-97 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers as 4.5-point chalk Sunday. The team lost point guard Marcus Smart to a thumb injury in that contest, adding to the list of regulars who will be unavailable for Wednesday night’s Wizards vs. Celtics betting matchup at TD Garden.

Promising rookie Daniel Theis also suffered a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Indiana, while point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to be out for Wednesday’s contest as he recovers from a knee injury and forward Jaylen Brown is on the shelf indefinitely after suffering a concussion in last Thursday’s 117-109 win in Minnesota.

The Celtics can take comfort in knowing they secured a playoff spot for a second straight year with their victory over the Timberwolves as 4.5-point favorites. However, consistency remains a concern, with the club going 2-2 straight up in its past four overall. Boston is also just 2-4 SU in its past six home dates, while covering just once during that stretch, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.

Boston has produced middling results in recent dates with the Wizards, going 3-4 SU in seven meetings, including a 111-103 loss as a 4-point favorite when Washington last visited on Christmas Day. The Celtics bounced back in their last matchup, topping the Wizards 110-104 as 2-point road favorites on February 8, to improve to 4-1 ATS in five meetings.

The Wizards limp into Boston after falling 116-111 to the Timberwolves as 3.5-point home chalk, dropping them to 2-5 SU over their past seven games. Despite the club’s recent swoon, Washington has been a solid road performer, going 8-2 SU over its past 10, but is on a 1-5 SU and ATS run in the back half of games on consecutive nights.

Following Wednesday’s contest, the Celtics begin a 10-game stretch that includes eight road contests with a visit to Orlando on Friday, followed by a Sunday evening road date in New Orleans.

The Celtics dropped a 103-95 decision to Orlando as 10.5-point home favorites on Jan. 21, but otherwise have dominated in head-to-head meetings with the Magic, winning SU in six of seven overall including lopsided victories by double-digit margins in their past two visits to Amway Center.

Boston has dropped two of three to the Pelicans, including a 106-105 loss as a 3.5-point favorite in its last trip to the Big Easy in November 2016, and has covered just once in four overall meetings.