Utah Jazz at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Friday, December 15, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 6.5 point favorites.

The Jazz come into this game with an overall record of 13-15. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.0 as they are averaging 103.0 points per game while giving up 100.0 per contest. The Celtics have an overall mark of 24-6. They currently are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 103.9 points per contest and giving up 98.0, which is a point differential of 5.9.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 15-13-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 14-13-1 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 20-8-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 15-15-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/13/17 G Joe Johnson Wrist is "?" Friday vs Boston
12/13/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is "?" Friday vs Boston
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder 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

Donovan Mitchell averages 17.8 points per game in 29.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 3 rebounds per game for Utah. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Rudy Gobert comes into this contest averaging 12.2 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Jazz. He pulls down 10.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 60% while his free throw percentage is currently at 68%.

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 5.6 rebounds per contest and 1.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 82%. Kyrie Irving averages 24 points per game while playing 32 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 3 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage currently is at 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 100 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 23rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they give up 18.8 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the league. Utah averages 103 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.93 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 40.3 rebounds per game and 21.9 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 20th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 15 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 98 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 20.6 assists allowed per contest, and 13th with 42.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 8th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. Boston is 20th in the league with 103.9 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 5.93. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.8 boards per game and 16th in assists per contest with 22.4. The Celtics are 21st in turnovers per game with 14.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 104.3 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 11th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Utah is 9th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 18th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 21st in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 29th in the league. The Celtics are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.4, and their defensive rating of 102.2 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Boston -6.5

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