Miami Heat at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 12/20/2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 8 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 15-15. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -2.0 as they are averaging 100.2 points per contest while giving up 102.2 per game. The Celtics have an overall mark of 26-7. They currently are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 103.8 points per contest and giving up 98.5, which is a point differential of 5.3.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 11-17-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 10-18-2 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 21-10-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 17-15-1 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/19/17 PG Goran Dragic Elbow is "?" Wednesday vs Boston
12/19/17 F Justise Winslow Knee is downgraded to doubtful Wednesday vs Boston
12/17/17 F James Johnson Ankle is out indefinitely
11/30/17 C Hassan Whiteside Knee is out indefinitely

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/12/17 SF Marcus Morris Knee is out indefinitely
10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic averages 16.6 points per game in 31.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.4 assists per contest and 4 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%. Dion Waiters comes into this contest averaging 14.8 points per game while playing 31.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 2.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is currently at 72%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 13.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.7 rebounds per contest and 1.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 84%. Kyrie Irving averages 24.4 points per game while playing 32 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 2.9 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 102.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 15th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.9 rebounds a game which ranks 14th, and they give up 20.1 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. Miami averages 100.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.03 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 19th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 41 rebounds per game and 21 assists per game, which ranks them 25th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 15.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 98.5 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 20.2 assists allowed per contest, and 12th with 42.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 8th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. Boston is 18th in the league with 103.8 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 5.33. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 44.1 boards per game and 15th in assists per contest with 22.4. The Celtics are 21st in turnovers per game with 14.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 24th in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 104.5 is ranked 18th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA. Miami is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 25th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 19th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.5, and their defensive rating of 102.9 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 12th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Boston -8

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