Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is expected to lead the Celtics anew over a Durant-less Nets quintet. Getty Images | Adam Glanzman

KEY POINTS

  • The Boston Celtics are heavily favored to prevail over a hosting Brooklyn Nets
  • Kevin Durant will miss the Nets' showdown with Celtics due to an MCL sprain
  • The Celtics are looking to stretch their streak with a win on the road against the Nets

The Brooklyn Nets will play host to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, January 12 at the Barclays Center in a battle of two teams enjoying respective winning runs.

The matchup will be the second time the Celtics and Nets will meet.

Boston won in their last encounter in December, 103-92. Meanwhile, the C's also own a 135-73 advantage and have won in their last four meetings.

In addition, Boston is coming off a 107-99 win over the Chicago Bulls and was led by the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Tatum erupted for 32 points while hauling down eight rebounds and issuing seven dimes.

Brown, on the other hand, tallied 19 points and five rebounds.

Boston outrebounded the Bulls, 50-42, in that encounter and played better as a team with a 25-19 assist advantage.

The Celtics are averaging 118.5 points per contest and norm 47.8% from the field and 37.1% from three-point territory.

On defense, the C's are allowing opposing teams 112.6 points per game on 46.9% shooting.

They are also giving up 44.3 rebounds per game and hold a defensive rating of 82, tied at the 13th spot with the Nets.

Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III have been listed as day-to-day against the Nets.

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On the other side, Brooklyn is coming off a close win over the Miami Heat, 102-101, the second-straight win of the Nets.

Kyrie Irving amassed 29 points and six assists, while Kevin Durant chipped in 17 markers and five boards in 30 minutes of action.

Durant was forced to leave the game in the third quarter after incurring a right knee injury.

According to the latest update on the 34-year-old, he sprained his MCL and will likely be sidelined.

The two-time NBA champion has been listed as out for this matchup with the Celtics.

Nic Claxton has been listed as questionable as well.

The Nets are averaging 114.6 points per game, owning a 51.2% field goal shooting clip and 39.2% from beyond the arc.

Brooklyn is giving up 110.6 points per game and allowing opposing teams to shoot 45.2% from the field.

They are also giving up 43.3 rebounds per game and own a defensive rating of 82, which is 13th in the league.

The Celtics are -3 spread favorites to win when they host the Nets, who are at +3.

The moneyline for this battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights is -155 for Boston and +130 for Brooklyn.

The Durant-less Brooklyn Nets brace for the streaking Nets on Thursday with the tip-off set for 8:30 AM ET. T

he game will be broadcast over TNT with live streaming available via fuboTV.

Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving will have to step up with Kevin Durant sidelined with a knee injury when the Nets face the Celtics on Jan. 12. Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
NBA Basketball