Marcus Smart, Celtics Pegged As Slim Underdogs Vs. Kyle Lowry, Raptors

The Boston Celtics are 1-2 a week into the 2014-15 NBA season, but have an extended stretch of home games to get back on track.

The Celtics are 1-2 with a win over the Brooklyn Nets, but 2-1 against the spread with their cover on the road against Dallas. The team welcomed back Rajon Rondo on opening night, and in three games, he is leading Boston in rebounds and assists, with Jeff Green leading in scoring.

The Celtics have been underdogs in all three games so far, and that likely will continue for most of the early part of this season. This week, they will face Toronto and Indiana at home Wednesday and Friday, then travel to Chicago on Saturday, then host Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Phoenix the following week. The early line against Toronto has Boston as a 1-point underdog at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The biggest game Wednesday features the 3-0 Golden State Warriors hosting the 3-1 Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors are installed as 3-point favorites. The Clippers defeated the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Clippers won 4-3, but the Warriors were 5-2 ATS. In their four regular-season games last season, they split the series, but Los Angeles was 3-1 ATS.

The biggest spread has Washington as an 11-point home favorite on the NBA betting lines over Indiana. The Wizards are 3-1 straight up and ATS this season, while the Pacers are 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS. They faced off in the second round of the playoffs last season. Indiana won the series 4-2, and they split the series against the spread. Washington travels to Toronto on Friday, and then heads to Indiana for a rematch of Wednesday?s game. The Pacers travel to Boston before returning home.

The biggest matchup of the next couple of days is Houston hosting San Antonio on Thursday. The Rockets are off to a 5-0 start (4-1 ATS) and face the defending NBA champions — the Spurs are only 1-1 in two games. Houston is 6-0 ATS and 5-1 SU in its last six games with San Antonio. After the Spurs come to town, Houston will host Golden State on Saturday before heading to Minnesota next Wednesday.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers continue a three-game road trip with visits to Utah on Wednesday and Denver on Friday. The Cavaliers are between 5-point and 7.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Cleveland is 1-1 SU and ATS, while Utah is 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS. Last season, the Cavaliers swept the two-game season series.

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