Best Lakers vs. Celtics Odds, NBA Player Props & Score Predictions Tonight: March 8

We're offering our best Lakers vs. Celtics prediction and player props for this massive showdown in Boston on Saturday night.

Shane Jackson

Last updated: March 8, 2025 3:34 PM EST • 5 min read

We offer our best Lakers vs. Celtics prediction and player props. — Pictured: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after his 3-point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers. Photo by David Butler II via Imagn Images.

ABC didn’t need Jayson Tatum’s free advertisement for this game the other night on TNT.

The entire NBA community will be focusing on Saturday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers (40-21) and Boston Celtics (45-18) at 8:30 p.m. ET in the TD Garden.

Will we be watching an NBA Finals preview? The Lakers have been sizzling while winning eight straight games. But the Celtics are 7.5-point favorites, with our best NBA betting sites expecting the defending champs to send a message.

Let's dive in with our Lakers vs. Celtics prediction and player props. I foresee Los Angeles suffering a competitive 114-108 defeat in Saturday’s ABC showdown.

💰 Best Lakers vs. Celtics predictions & NBA player props tonight: March 8

Here are my best Lakers vs. Celtics predictions and player props for tonight's NBA matchup with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our NBA picks along with our guide on how to bet on the NBA.

Game pick: Under 227 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
Jaxson Hayes player prop pick: Over 6.5 points (-125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Payton Pritchard player prop pick: Under 19.5 points + rebounds + assists (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jayson Tatum player prop pick: Under 27.5 points (-125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

📊 Lakers vs. Celtics pick & odds: Who will win tonight's NBA matchup?

As of Saturday morning, the Celtics are favored by 7.5 points to beat the Lakers in tonight's NBA matchup at 8:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden. I predict the Celtics will beat the Lakers, but the visitors should cover the spread (+7.5).

The spread arrived at 7.5 after opening at -6 yesterday evening. As John Ewing of BetMGM notes, the Lakers at +7.5 are the most bet team to cover in the NBA on Saturday amid a busy slate.

The Celtics sit second in the NBA championship odds, while the Lakers aren't far behind in fourth.

🔢 Lakers vs. Celtics odds & betting lines

Here are the latest Lakers vs. Celtics odds and betting lines from our best live betting sites.

🎯 Lakers vs. Celtics score prediction: Celtics 114, Lakers 108

Los Angeles has been No. 1 in defensive rating since Jan. 15, but 13th in offensive rating since trading for Luka Doncic. As such, the Under is the best play when I predict the Celtics will beat the Lakers by a final score of Celtics 114, Lakers 108.

Best bet: Under 227 (-110 via Caesars)

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💰 Best Lakers vs. Celtics player prop bet odds & expert picks: March 8

Here are my best Lakers vs. Celtics player prop bet odds and expert picks for tonight's NBA matchup. You can also check out our NBA player prop odds tool for the latest NBA odds at the best legal sportsbooks in your region.

🏀 Best Jaxson Hayes prop pick: Over 6.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -125 via DraftKings ($10 to win $8)

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In a game featuring Tatum, Doncic, and LeBron James, my favorite player prop bet is on Lakers center Jaxson Hayes. In fairness, Hayes thrives because he plays alongside two of the best creators in the sport.

Hayes has averaged 8.7 points over his past 13 games, clearing this prop nine times over that span. He continues to find himself on the receiving end of lobs when teams collapse on Doncic or James.

I project eight points for Hayes on Saturday in a game when the Lakers can’t afford to use as many small-ball lineups.

📊 Best Jaxson Hayes prop bet odds

🏀 Best Payton Pritchard prop pick: Under 19.5 points + rebounds + assists ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -105 via DraftKings ($10 to win $9.52)

Payton Pritchard has made the most of some shorthanded Boston lineups in his last two games. He’s scored 62 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished 11 assists in 75 minutes.

However, the Celtics will play everyone for this game. I don’t expect Pritchard to get going, especially with how the Lakers defend the best shooters on the court. He was held to seven points (along with two rebounds and two assists) in Los Angeles on Jan. 23.

I project value on Under 13.5 points, but this combo prop provides more outs in a game where he won’t see as much playing time.

📊 Best Payton Pritchard prop bet odds

🏀 Best Jayson Tatum prop pick: Under 27.5 points ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -125 via DraftKings ($10 to win $8)

Growing up a fan of Kobe Bryant, Tatum appreciates the significance of a Lakers-Celtics matchup. But that hasn’t translated to success, as he’s finished below 27.5 points in his past three head-to-head meetings with Los Angeles.

Tatum was held to 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting against the Lakers on Jan. 23. JJ Redick has done a good job of taking away a team’s top threat during this recent run, so I expect him to have a good game plan for Tatum.

With a projection of 25 points, there is value on this line at -135 or better.

📊 Best Jayson Tatum prop bet odds

🚑 Lakers vs. Celtics injuries

Here are the latest injuries for tonight's Lakers vs. Celtics matchup, which will update in real time.

📺 How to watch Lakers vs. Celtics tonight

📅 Date: Saturday, March 8
🕗 Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: TD Garden (Boston)
📺 TV: ABC
💻 Streaming: ESPN+

❓ Lakers vs. Celtics FAQs

Who is favored to win Lakers vs. Celtics?

Boston is -295 to win, for an implied probability of 74.68%.

What are the odds for Lakers vs. Celtics?

The Celtics are 7.5-point favorites, with a game total of 226.5.

What time is Lakers vs. Celtics tonight?

Tonight’s Lakers vs. Celtics game will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Lakers vs. Celtics

Watch Lakers vs. Celtics on ABC.

🏀 Best NBA betting sites

Looking to bet on the NBA tonight? Here are our best NBA betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best sportsbook promos available for tonight's NBA games.

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Written By:
Shane Jackson

Shane Jackson has been writing for Sportsbook Review since 2022, though his passion for sports, writing, and betting runs much longer than that. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a journalism degree in 2017 and has been covering sports ever since, working for MLB.com, Manhattan Mercury, Lawrence Journal-World, WynnBET, Bet Chicago Sports, BetNOLA, and BetMGM. Jackson cares about creating quality sports betting content above all else. He uses a mixture of models, information, film, analysis, and a top-down approach to locate every best bet shared for SBR. He never gives out a pick that he wouldn’t be willing to spend his own money on. Jackson is focused on finding +EV bets on a daily basis for a variety of sports such as NCAAF, NCAAB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB. He usually bets on props but is willing to wager on a spread or total when there is an edge. Don’t ask him how many bets he has placed on a typical college football Saturday. Jackson doesn’t care if you follow him on social media, but his Twitter account has info on how you can follow his bets through multiple third-party platforms. He just wants you to read all the great work from the SBR team.