Celtics vs. Hawks prediction: Why Boston is favored to win Saturday's NBA game [1/17/2026]

NBA action continues on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET as the Boston Celtics take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.

Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model projects the Celtics as the most likely winner of the Celtics vs. Hawks game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Hawks lineup will feature players like Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum, while the Celtics will rely on Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Anfernee Simons.

This article offers a closer look at Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Celtics vs. Hawks prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Saturday's NBA matchup between the Celtics and Hawks 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Celtics a 63% chance of beating the Hawks. Our predicted final score has the Celtics winning 115-111.

According to our model, the Celtics (-3.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 230.5 points has a 54% chance of staying under.

Celtics vs. Hawks odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Celtics	Hawks
Spread	-3.5 (-110)	+3.5 (-108)
Moneyline	-162	+140
Total	o230.5 (-110)	u230.5 (-108)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Celtics vs. Hawks picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Celtics -3.5	-110
Moneyline	Celtics	-162
Total	Under 230.5	-108

According to our best NBA bets for Saturday, the top play to make on this game is Under 230.5 total points.

Celtics vs. Hawks player props

Betting on Boston vs. Atlanta NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at State Farm Arena.

Jaylen Brown is expected to lead the Celtics with 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while Jalen Johnson is projected to have 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists for the Hawks.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Celtics prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Celtics are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Jaylen Brown	32	7	6	2	56
Derrick White	20	5	6	3	43
Anfernee Simons	17	3	3	3	29
Sam Hauser	11	5	2	3	23
Neemias Queta	10	8	2	0	28

Hawks prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Hawks:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Jalen Johnson	22	10	7	2	51
N. Alexander-Walker	17	4	3	3	32
CJ McCollum	17	3	4	2	31
Onyeka Okongwu	16	8	3	3	38
Corey Kispert	10	2	2	2	18

Celtics vs. Hawks game-day updates and essential details

Saturday's matchup between the Hawks and Celtics at State Farm Arena is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM ET.

• Who: Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Venue: State Farm Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Celtics, with a 63% win probability, will likely beat the Hawks on Saturday, with Jaylen Brown projected for a game-high 56 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Celtics vs. Hawks insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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