Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 2/28/2018

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Charlotte Hornets head to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The opening line for this game has Boston as 7.5 point favorites.

The Hornets come into this game with an overall record of 27-33. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.2 as they are averaging 106.5 points per game while giving up 106.3 per contest. The Celtics have an overall record of 43-19. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 103.6 points per game and surrendering 99.8, good for a point differential of 3.8.

Valuable Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 25-31-4 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 28-30-2 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 36-24-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 31-29-2 against the over/under

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Dwight Howard comes into this game averaging 15.7 points per contest while playing 30.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 12.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 55%. Kemba Walker averages 22.9 points per contest in 34.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 5.8 assists per game and 3.3 rebounds per contest for Charlotte. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving has scored 24.7 points per contest while playing 32.6 minutes per game this season for the Celtics. He hauls in 3.7 rebounds per contest and has 5.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 32 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.6 rebounds per game and 4.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Charlotte averages 106.5 points per contest this year, which is 13th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.22 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 26th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They average 45.7 boards per contest and 21.3 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 26th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 28th with 12.8 per game. The Hornets allow 106.3 points per contest which is 16th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 26th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.1 rebounds a game which ranks 16th, and they allow 24 assists per game which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 21st in the NBA with 103.6 points per contest this season. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.85. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 4th in the league. They are 9th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.3 boards per contest and 21st in assists per game with 22.2. The Celtics are 22nd in turnovers per contest with 13.7. The Celtics give up 99.8 points per game, which ranks them 2nd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 20.6 dimes allowed per game and 21st with 44.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108, and their defensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 10th in the league with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 27th. As a team they are 26th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 24th in the league. Charlotte is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 20th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 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 30th in the league. The Celtics are 17th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 103.4 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 16th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Boston -7.5

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