The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics meet Monday night at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas as part of the 2026 NBA Summer League, with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime. This is Summer League basketball, so both rosters are stocked with rookies, second-year players and two-way hopefuls rather than the stars fans see during the regular season — but that hasn’t stopped either group from playing meaningful, well-scouted basketball through the first two rounds of the Vegas slate. Both teams enter Day 5 unbeaten in Las Vegas, with Atlanta fresh off a comeback win over Brooklyn and Boston coming off back-to-back victories over Toronto and Charlotte.
Why Vegas Oddsmakers Like Atlanta in This One
Books have installed the Hawks as home favorites in this neutral-court matchup, with Atlanta laying 4.5 points and priced around -110 on the spread against Boston. The line reflects how differently these two Summer League units have been built: Atlanta’s group is centered on lottery-caliber size and a proven initiator, while Boston’s roster leans on two returning NBA rotation pieces plus a collection of second-round and undrafted prospects. Bettors looking for more context on how Summer League spreads and totals get set can check our NBA betting guide before placing anything on this slate.
Ejiofor and Flemings Carry Atlanta’s Momentum
The Hawks arrived in Las Vegas 2-0 in this leg of Summer League after routing San Antonio 93-66 on July 9 and then rallying from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat Brooklyn 83-76 on July 11. First-round center Zuby Ejiofor has been the engine of that turnaround, posting 12 points and four rebounds against the Spurs before following up with 13 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in the win over the Nets. No. 8 overall pick Kingston Flemings has run the show at the point, dishing eight assists against San Antonio and adding nine points, seven rebounds and five more assists versus Brooklyn. Kobe Johnson has given Atlanta a scoring punch off the bench, dropping 17 points in the comeback win over the Nets, while second-year forward Asa Newell continues to add size and rebounding up front.
Boston’s group has been just as competitive, if a bit more reliant on its returning NBA players. Second-year guard/forward Hugo Gonzalez nearly recorded a triple-double in the Celtics’ overtime opener against Toronto, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and he followed that with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in a win over Charlotte. Center Amari Williams, who started games for Boston during the regular season, was dominant in the Raptors win with 23 points and 13 rebounds. The bigger story from Sunday’s victory over the Hornets was second-round pick Dillon Mitchell, who exploded for a game-high 24 points, eight rebounds and six steals, while guard John Tonje added 17 points and Milos Uzan chipped in 13 points and six assists.
Both teams have shown they can win multiple ways — Atlanta through size and defensive stops in the fourth quarter, Boston through perimeter shot-making and Gonzalez’s all-around playmaking. The Hawks’ size advantage up front with Ejiofor, Newell and rookie center Henri Veesaar figures to be a key swing factor against a Celtics frontcourt that has leaned heavily on Williams and Mitchell. Atlanta’s ability to control the glass and get easy buckets in transition has fueled both of its Vegas wins, and that identity should carry over against a Boston team that has needed extra time or a big individual outburst to close out its own two victories.
Prediction and Best Bet
Both clubs are unbeaten in Las Vegas, but Atlanta’s size and its balanced scoring between Ejiofor, Flemings and Johnson give it the edge in a game the market expects to be tighter than the number suggests.
- Prediction: Atlanta Hawks 86, Boston Celtics 80
- Best Bet: Hawks -4.5 on the spread
Atlanta’s frontcourt depth and its track record of closing games strong through two Vegas outings make the Hawks the play, especially with a number that still sits close to even money on the moneyline. Bettors comparing this line across sportsbooks can also check our DraftKings promo code or FanDuel promo code pages, and those tracking the summer slate more broadly can browse NBA odds or check in on NBA Champion odds for next season.
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