Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/31/2018
Monday, December 31, 2018
AT&T Center
Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.
The Boston Celtics head to AT&T Center to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, December 31, 2018. The opening line for this game has Boston as 2.5 point favorites.
The Celtics have a record of 21-14. They are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They have a point differential of 6.1 as they average 111.7 points per game while giving up 105.6 per contest. The Spurs have an overall record of 20-17 this season. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They average 111.2 points per game and surrender 109.2, good for a point differential of 2.1.
Valuable Boston Celtics Betting Trends
The Boston Celtics are 18-17-0 against the spread this season
The Boston Celtics are 22-13-0 against the over/under this year
Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
The San Antonio Spurs are 21-15-1 against the spread this season
The San Antonio Spurs are 20-17-0 against the over/under this year
Key Boston Celtics Injuries
12/19/18 C Aron Baynes Hand is out indefinitely
Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries
12/30/18 SF Rudy Gay Wrist is questionable Monday vs Boston
12/29/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is upgraded to questionable Saturday vs LA Clippers
10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season
Player Spotlight
Jayson Tatum averages 16.3 points per contest in 31.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%. Kyrie Irving comes into this game averaging 23.3 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per night. He grabs 5.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is 86%.
Player Spotlight
DeMar DeRozan averages 23.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 35.1 minutes per game. He also hauls in 5.8 rebounds per game and dishes 6.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 84%. LaMarcus Aldridge scores 19.5 points per contest while playing 32.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.0 rebounds per contest and has 2.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 83%.
Useful Team Statistics
The Celtics allow 105.6 points per contest which is 4th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 3rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they allow 22.3 assists per game which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Boston averages 111.7 points per contest, which is 12th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.1 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 19th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They average 45.5 boards per contest and 25.3 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 27th with 12.9 per game.
Useful Team Statistics
The Spurs give up 109.2 points per game, which ranks them 12th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 18th and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 22nd with 24.5 dimes allowed per game and 10th with 44.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Spurs are 5th in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per contest. San Antonio is 14th in the NBA with 111.2 points per contest this season. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 2.1. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 1st in the league. They are 18th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.6 boards per contest and 13th in assists per game with 24.6. The Spurs are 30th in turnovers per contest with 12.0.
Advanced Statistics
The Celtics are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 105.5, and their offensive rating of 111.6 is ranked 4th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 13th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA. Boston is 27th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 26th in the NBA.
Advanced Statistics
San Antonio is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 12th in the NBA. The Spurs are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 111, and their offensive rating of 113.1 is ranked 18th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA.
So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?
Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Boston -2.5 and over 215.5 total points
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