Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 1/3/2018

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Boston as 2 point favorites.

The Cavaliers come into this game with an overall record of 24-12. They are 1st in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.8 as they are averaging 110.1 points per game while giving up 107.3 per contest. The Celtics have an overall mark of 30-10. They currently are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 103.5 points per contest and giving up 98.5, which is a point differential of 5.0.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 11-24-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 17-18-1 against the over/un=DEr

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 24-14-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 20-19-1 against the over/un=DEr

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

11/30/17 G Iman Shumpert Knee is out indefinitely
11/17/17 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is out indefinitely
01/01/18 PG Isaiah Thomas Hip is upgraded to probable Tuesday vs Portland

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/30/17 F Semi Ojeleye Back is out indefinitely
10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Lebron James comes into this game averaging 27.8 points per contest while playing 37.4 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 8.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 9.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Kevin Love averages 20.2 points per contest in 29.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 10.2 rebounds per contest for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving has scored 24.8 points per contest while playing 32.4 minutes per game this season for the Celtics. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Jayson Tatum averages 14.1 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.6 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.1 points per contest this year, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.78 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They average 41.8 boards per contest and 23.5 assists per game, which ranks them 21st and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover =DEpartment they are 16th with 14.4 per game. The Cavaliers allow 107.3 points per contest which is 23rd in the NBA. They also surren=DEr a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 21st in =DEfensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.8 rebounds a game which ranks 14th, and they allow 25.4 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 20th in the NBA with 103.5 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 4.95. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 8th in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44 boards per contest and 19th in assists per game with 22.1. The Celtics are 20th in turnovers per contest with 14.2. The Celtics give up 98.5 points per game, which ranks them 2nd in the league. Their =DEfense is surren=DEring a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 2nd and 4th in those =DEfensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.3 dimes allowed per game and 21st with 43.7 boards surren=DEred per contest. The Celtics are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 110.8, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 4th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 4th. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the NBA. Cleveland is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 18th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 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 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108, and their defensive rating of 102.9 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 11th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland +2

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