Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 4/8/2018

Sunday, April 8, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Hawks travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 9.5 point favorites.

The Hawks come into this game with an overall record of 23-57. They are 5th in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -5.6 as they are averaging 103.1 points per game while giving up 108.7 per contest. The Celtics have an overall record of 54-25. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 103.9 points per game and surrendering 100.2, good for a point differential of 3.7.

Valuable Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 38-39-3 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 35-44-1 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 49-28-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 39-38-2 against the over/under

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

04/06/18 G Malcolm Delaney Ankle is doubtful Sunday vs Boston
03/31/18 G Dennis Schroder Ankle is out for season
03/12/18 G Kent Bazemore Knee is out for season

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
04/05/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is out for season
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season
03/12/18 G Marcus Smart Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Taurean Waller-Prince comes into this contest averaging 13.7 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Hawks. He pulls down 4.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 85%. John Collins averages 10.4 points per game in 23.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 7.3 rebounds per game for Atlanta. His field goal percentage is 58% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 7.3 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%. Jayson Tatum averages 13.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 103.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -5.56 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 42 rebounds per game and 23.7 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 15.7 per game. The Hawks allow 108.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.1 rebounds a game which ranks 23rd and they give up 25.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 20th in the league with 103.9 points per game this year. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.78. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 44.3 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 22.3. The Celtics are 17th in turnovers per game with 14. The Celtics surrender 100.2 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 21 assists allowed per contest and 19th with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 26th in the league in defensive rating with 110.5, and their offensive rating of 104.9 is ranked 9th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 98.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the NBA. Atlanta is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 6th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 16th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 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 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 15th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Atlanta +9.5

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