Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 3/20/2018

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 3 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 43-29. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.3 as they are averaging 107.4 points per contest while giving up 104.1 per game. The Celtics have an overall record of 47-23. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.3 points per game and surrendering 100.4, good for a point differential of 3.9.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 29-41-2 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 34-38-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 42-26-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 35-33-2 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

01/28/18 G Andre Roberson Leg is out for season

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
03/19/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is "?" Tuesday vs Oklahoma City
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season
03/12/18 G Marcus Smart Thumb is out indefinitely
03/09/18 F Jaylen Brown Concussion is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Carmelo Anthony averages 16.7 points per game in 32.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 5.8 rebounds per game for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%. Russell Westbrook comes into this contest averaging 25.3 points per game while playing 36.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Thunder. He pulls down 9.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 10.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 74%.

Player Spotlight

Al Horford averages 12.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per contest and 4.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Kyrie Irving averages 24.4 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 3.8 rebounds per game and has 5.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 104.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.7 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they give up 23.3 assists per contest which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 107.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.33 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 44.8 rebounds per game and 21.4 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 14.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 100.4 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 21 assists allowed per contest, and 20th with 43.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season. Boston is 20th in the league with 104.3 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.93. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game and 19th in assists per contest with 22.4. The Celtics are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 110.5 is ranked 22nd. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. Oklahoma City is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 15th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 19th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 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 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.7, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 96.1 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 6th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Boston -3

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald