The veteran and crafty Boston Celtics will face the suddenly surging Phoenix Suns inside the famed TD Garden in Boston, MA. They will jump it up at 7:30 p.m. On paper, this has the makings of a great game, and we expect it to be an exciting one. Bookmaker has installed the Celtics as a slim but solid 4.5-point favorite in this clash. 

The Celtics (51-14) are flat-out running away with the Atlantic Division and lead the New York Knicks by a whopping 13 games as they blow away the competition. Boston is one of the deepest teams in the entire league, and they feel like they are on a collision course with the Milwaukee Bucks come playoff time. 

The Celtics have a great 1-2 tandem and punch in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, averaging over 20 points, respectively. Tatum is leading the team in scoring 27 points per game, while Brown is chipping in with 22 a night. Brown has also done a great job running the floor and playing both ends, as he grabs 5.6 rebounds and hands out 3.7 assists per night.

These two are a compelling pair, and Celtics fans believe they are the two that will lead them back to the NBA Finals and win it all. Boston will be measured by how far they get come playoff time, and if they do not get to the finals, it will be considered a disappointment.

Boston is also getting some great production from veteran Kristaps Porzingis, who missed Tuesday night's win over the Utah Jazz. He has been hampered by a hamstring issue and might not be available Thursday night.  

The Suns suddenly look like a dangerous team, and veteran power forward Kevin Durant has turned back the clock and is playing some of the best basketball of his career.

He is averaging 26 points a night and has had some monster games in his career against the Celtics. He has averaged 45 points when he has played them over his career, but Boston has had issues guarding and containing him. 

Look for Durant to continue going off on Boston come Thursday night. The Suns will also get the ball into guard Devin Booker's hands and let him do what he does best: create off the dribble. Booker is netting 27 a game and adding close to seven assists per night, too. 

The Celtics are 3-2 in their last five games and 3-2 in their previous five games against the number. They are also 15-15 in their road games against the spread. The totals have gone over in just one of the Celtics last five games. The Suns are 3-2 in their previous five games and 1-4 in their last five games against the spread too. They are 14-16 in their road games against the spread.