Spurs vs. Celtics NBA expert prediction and odds for Wednesday, Jan. 17 (How to bet on a blowout)

The Boston Celtics return home in hopes of pushing its undefeated record at the TD Garden to 20-0 on the year.

In the team's way is the San Antonio Spurs, who have a promising star in Victor Wembanyama, but not someone who is in a place to succeed just yet as the Spurs are tied with the second-worst record in basketball at the moment at 7-32 and now have to take on the best team in the league in the Celtics.

Boston is laying 16 points at home on Wednesday, but is there a way to target this likely blowout? I got you covered with my best bet for this one:

Spurs Injury Report

Celtics Injury Report

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama: The No. 1 pick in the draft isn't getting the dominant results right away in terms of wins, but he looks to be the future of the league. Wembanyama is averaging nearly 20 points per game while grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out three assists. He is also averaging more than three blocks per game. The Spurs have found a franchise cornerstone.

Celtics

Jayson Tatum: Tatum struggled to score in Monday's win against the Raptors, scoring only 19 points, but contributed in other ways like grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out six assists. Tatum will draw a favorable matchup against a Spurs team that is 24th in points allowed per 100 possessions and plays at a top-three pace, so expect him to fill the stat sheet on Wednesday.

The Celtics are the best first-half team in the NBA, like plenty of statistics that show the top team in the league is elite. Boston is +7.2 in the first half this season, routinely building an early lead and racking up wins in the process. Now, the team draws the Spurs, who are 25th in average first-half margin, sitting at -3.2.

While San Antonio scored two wins last week against the lowly Pistons and Hornets, the team is routinely getting blasted by better competitions, fresh off a double-digit loss on Monday to the Hawks in which the team was down 35 at halftime.

Boston is one of five teams that has an effective field goal percentage north of 60% and the Spurs' hapless defense won't be able to hold up. On the other end, the Celtics' ability to shut down opponents should leave San Antonio, who is 26th in effective field goal percentage, down big early.

I'll take the Celtics to keep it rolling in the first half and build a comfortable lead before extended garbage time. Take Boston to cover the first-half number.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.