Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/8/2017

Friday, December 8, 2017

AT&T Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Boston Celtics travel to AT&T Center to play the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, December 8, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 1 point favorites.

The Celtics come into this game with an overall record of 22-4. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 7.3 as they are averaging 104.5 points per game while giving up 97.2 per contest. The Spurs have an overall record of 17-8. They currently are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 101.3 points per game and surrendering 97.3, good for a point differential of 4.0.

Valuable Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 19-6-1 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 13-13-0 against the over/under

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 13-11-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 10-15-0 against the over/under

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/07/17 SF Jaylen Brown Eye is "?" Friday vs San Antonio
12/07/17 SF Marcus Morris Knee is "?" Friday vs San Antonio
10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

12/04/17 G Kyle Anderson Knee is out indefinitely
10/22/17 SF Kawhi Leonard Quad is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum comes into this contest averaging 14 points per game while playing 30.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Celtics. He pulls down 5.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%. Kyrie Irving averages 23.5 points per game in 31.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5 assists per contest and 3.1 rebounds per game for Boston. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.6 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per contest this year for the Spurs. He grabs 8 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage currently is at 85%. Pau Gasol averages 11.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 25.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.7 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston averages 104.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.23 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 45.3 rebounds per game and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 24th with 14.2 per game. The Celtics allow 97.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 20.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio is 25th in the league with 101.3 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.96. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 44.3 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 23.3. The Spurs are 22nd in turnovers per game with 14.4. The Spurs surrender 97.3 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 21.8 assists allowed per contest and 4th with 41 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spurs are 12th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Celtics are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 100.7, and their offensive rating of 108.2 is ranked 30th. They are 23rd in the NBA in pace with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA. Boston is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 28th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 20th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league. The Spurs are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.1, and their defensive rating of 102.9 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 94.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 20th. As a team they are 21st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league.

Who will win tonight's Celtics/Spurs NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Boston +1

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