Thursday, December 29, 2016

Quicken Loans Arena

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Boston Celtics travel to Quicken Loans Arena to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, December 29, 2016. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 7.5 point favorites and the total is set at 216.5. The Celtics come into this game with an overall record of 19-13. They are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.2 as they are averaging 105.5 points per game while giving up 103.3 per contest. The Cavaliers have an overall record of 23-7. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They are averaging 110.1 points per game and surrendering 103.0, good for a point differential of 7.2.

Al Horford comes into this contest averaging 15.5 points per game while playing 33.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Celtics. He pulls down 6.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Isaiah Thomas averages 26.8 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.3 assists per contest and 2.5 rebounds per game for Boston. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%.

Lebron James averages 25.5 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per contest this year for the Cavaliers. He grabs 7.9 rebounds per game and has 8.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage currently is at 69%. Kyrie Irving averages 23.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 5.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Boston averages 105.4 points per contest this season which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.1 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 49.9 rebounds per game and 24.8 assists per game which ranks them 25th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 12.4 per game. The Celtics allow 103.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 6th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 55.5 rebounds a game which ranks 28th and they give up 21.7 assists per contest which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league.

Cleveland averages 110.1 points per game this year which ranks them 4th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 7.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team which has them sitting in the 11th spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They average 54.2 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per contest which ranks them 6th and 10th respectively. In the turnover department the Cavaliers rank 13th with 13.7 per game. The Cavaliers allow 103 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc ranking them 11th and 18th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 51.5 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 24th place in the league. The Cavaliers force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the NBA.

The Celtics have an offensive rating of 109.5 and a defensive rating of 107.4. In terms of pace they average 96 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 51%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 55% and they shoot 3 pointers on 36% of their shots. Boston turns the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions and they force 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%.

The Cavaliers rating on offense is 113.8 and they have a defensive rating of 106.4. They get 96.4 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 54%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they attempt 3 pointers on 39% of their shot attempts. Cleveland turns the ball over on 12.4 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 12.3 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 50%.

Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 18-13-1 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 14-18-0 against the over/under

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-14-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-15-0 against the over/under

Boston Celtics Injuries

No key injuries to report

Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/21/16 G J.R. Smith Thumb out indefinitely
12/16/16 F Chris Andersen ACL out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland -7.5

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