Phoenix Suns at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 12/2/2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Phoenix Suns travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Saturday, December 2, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 12 point favorites.

The Suns head into this matchup with a mark of 8-15. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of -8.9 as they are averaging 106.9 points per contest while giving up 115.8 per game. The Celtics have an overall mark of 19-4. They currently are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.0 points per contest and giving up 96.8, which is a point differential of 7.2.

Valuable Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns are 9-13-1 against the spread

The Phoenix Suns are 14-9-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 18-4-1 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 11-12-0 against the over/under

Key Phoenix Suns Injuries

10/14/17 PG Brandon Knight Knee is out for season

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

T.J. Warren comes into this contest averaging 18.4 points per game while playing 30.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Suns. He pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 76%. Devin Booker averages 23 points per game in 33.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4 assists per contest and 4.4 rebounds per game for Phoenix. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving averages 23.4 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 3.3 rebounds per game and has 5.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage currently is at 87%. Jayson Tatum averages 13.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 1.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix averages 106.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.91 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 28th in the league. They average 46.6 rebounds per game and 19.7 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 16.7 per game. The Suns allow 115.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 30th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 25th and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47 rebounds a game which ranks 30th and they give up 22.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 19th in the league with 104 points per game this year. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 7.17. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 45.6 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 22.2. The Celtics are 22nd in turnovers per game with 14.5. The Celtics surrender 96.8 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 21 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 42.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Suns are 25th in the NBA in offensive rating with 103.1, and their defensive rating of 111.7 is ranked 1st. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 28th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 26th in the league. Phoenix is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 11th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 22nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 28th in the league. The Celtics are 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.5, and their defensive rating of 100.1 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 19th. As a team they are 17th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Boston -12

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