Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/23/2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Boston Celtics travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 4.5 point favorites.

The Celtics come into this game with an overall record of 34-13. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 4.6 as they are averaging 102.6 points per game while giving up 98.0 per contest. The Lakers have an overall mark of 17-29. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 106.6 points per contest and giving up 109.9, which is a point differential of -3.3.

Valuable Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 27-18-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 22-24-1 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 23-23-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 24-22-0 against the over/under

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

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

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

01/22/18 F Kyle Kuzma Finger injured last game, is probable Tuesday vs Boston
01/22/18 PG Lonzo Ball Knee is OUT Tuesday vs Boston
01/21/18 G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Achilles is "?" Tuesday vs Boston

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 13.7 points per game in 31 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 5.5 rebounds per game for Boston. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Kyrie Irving comes into this contest averaging 24.5 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Celtics. He pulls down 3.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 88%.

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 23.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.9 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Kyle Kuzma averages 16.4 points per game while playing 30.8 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 6.1 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics allow 98 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 1st and 1st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.1 rebounds a game which ranks 22nd, and they give up 20 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league. Boston averages 102.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 4.51 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 44.4 rebounds per game and 22 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 20th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers surrender 109.9 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 18th with 23 assists allowed per contest, and 27th with 45.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.4 per game this season. Los Angeles is 10th in the league with 106.6 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -3.35. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 30th in the NBA. They are 3rd in the league in rebounding with 46.2 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 23.7. The Lakers are 2nd in turnovers per game with 16.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Celtics are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 101.9, and their offensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 30th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the NBA. Boston is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 30th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 4th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 19th in the league. The Lakers are 29th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104, and their defensive rating of 107.2 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 23rd. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -4.5

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