Los Angeles Clippers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 2/14/2018

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Clippers head to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. The opening line for this game has Boston as 5.5 point favorites.

The Clippers head into this matchup with a mark of 29-26. They are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.8 as they are averaging 107.6 points per contest while giving up 106.8 per game. The Celtics have an overall record of 40-18. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 102.9 points per game and surrendering 99.1, good for a point differential of 3.8.

Valuable Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 30-25-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Clippers are 27-27-1 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 34-22-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 28-29-1 against the over/under

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

11/22/17 PG Patrick Beverley Knee is out for season

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
01/26/18 SG Marcus Smart Hand is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Tobias Harris comes into this game averaging 17.9 points per contest while playing 32.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Lou Williams averages 23.2 points per contest in 32.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 5.3 assists per game and 2.6 rebounds per contest for Los Angeles. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving has scored 24.6 points per contest while playing 32.7 minutes per game this season for the Celtics. He hauls in 3.6 rebounds per contest and has 5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Al Horford averages 13.2 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 32.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.8 rebounds per game and 5.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles averages 107.6 points per contest this year, which is 7th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.75 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 11th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They average 43.8 boards per contest and 22 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 10th with 14.9 per game. The Clippers allow 106.8 points per contest which is 20th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 6th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.3 rebounds a game which ranks 23rd, and they allow 23.8 assists per game which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 19th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 25th in the NBA with 102.9 points per contest this season. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.74. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 9th in the league. They are 11th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.3 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 22. The Celtics are 20th in turnovers per contest with 14. The Celtics give up 99.1 points per game, which ranks them 2nd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.5 dimes allowed per game and 21st with 44.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 12th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Clippers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 108.4, and their offensive rating of 109.2 is ranked 16th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 12th. As a unit they are 12th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 15th in the NBA. Los Angeles is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 17th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Celtics are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 102.8, and their offensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 30th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 95.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. 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 5th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Boston -5.5

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