After a brutal start to the season, the Los Angeles Clippers have won six straight contests, and they’ll look to stay hot at home against a surging Boston Celtics team that has won six of its last seven.
Kawhi Leonard has gone ballistic in the scoring column as of late, and my Celtics vs Clippers predictions expect Leonard to lead LA to a seventh straight victory.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Saturday, January 3.
Celtics vs Clippers prediction
Celtics vs Clippers best bet: Clippers -1.5 (-110)
Both teams have excelled as of late, but the advantage goes to the home team here. The Los Angeles Clippers have won and covered in six straight games thanks to monster production from Kawhi Leonard, and the team is 8-2 ATS across its last 10. The Boston Celtics are 6-1 straight up and ATS across their last seven, thanks to big numbers from Jaylen Brown.
Over the last six games, Los Angeles ranks first in offensive rating at 127.2, first in defensive rating at 105.6, and first in net rating at 21.6. Los Angeles has won each of those six games by no fewer than 13 points.
The Celtics will play their fifth road game in eight days, while the Clippers will be home for a fourth straight contest and sixth time in their last seven. Boston is 3-1 straight up and ATS on its current road trip, but the wins have come against the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers.
Of the Clippers’ last six wins, they’ve posted quality victories over the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons.
The Clippers are getting hot, and they hold the advantages of home court and rest. I’ll roll with them to win and cover for a seventh straight contest.
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Celtics vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Celtics are 15-18 to the Under, and the Clippers are 16-17 to the Under this season. Each team has hit the Game Total Under in six of their last 10 outings. In that span, the Clippers rank seventh in defensive rating at 112, and the Celtics rank 11th at 113.3. In a clash of strong defenses, I’ll bet on a low-scoring affair at Intuit Dome.
The Celtics offer a challenging defensive matchup, but Leonard is in the midst of the best scoring run of his career. He’s averaging a career-best 28.5 points across 23 appearances this season, but over the Clippers six-game win streak, he’s averaged a whopping 39 points. Leonard is carrying the load for a team lacking offensive firepower, and I expect him to continue doing so tonight.
Celtics vs Clippers SGP
- Clippers -1.5
- Leonard Over 28.5 points
- Under 220.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Stars shine in L.A.
Just like Leonard, Brown has been doing the heavy lifting for his team in recent weeks. Over his last 15 games, Brown has averaged 31.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, good for 41.6 PRA. In that span, he scored 30+ points in nine straight games from December 2 through December 28.
Brown posted a 33/13/3 line against the Clippers on November 16, and he’s primed for another strong showing tonight. He may even have some extra motivation after being snubbed for Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
Celtics vs Clippers SGP
- Clippers -1.5
- Leonard Over 28.5 points
- Under 220.5
- Jaylen Brown Over 39.5 P/R/A
Celtics vs Clippers odds
- Spread: Celtics +1.5 | Clippers -1.5
- Moneyline: Celtics +100 | Clippers -120
- Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the 1H Game Total Under in 53 of their last 90 games (+12.00 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Clippers.
How to watch Celtics vs Clippers
| Location | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
| Date | Saturday, January 3, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBA TV |
Celtics vs Clippers latest injuries
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