Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 3/31/2018

Saturday, March 31, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Toronto Raptors travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Saturday, March 31, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 3 point favorites.

The Raptors come into this game with an overall record of 55-20. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.1 as they are averaging 112.5 points per game while giving up 104.4 per contest. The Celtics have an overall record of 52-23. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.1 points per game and surrendering 100.1, good for a point differential of 4.0.

Valuable Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 40-35-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 38-36-1 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 46-27-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 36-37-2 against the over/under

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
03/30/18 C Al Horford Ankle is "?" Saturday vs Toronto
03/28/18 F Marcus Morris Ankle is "?" Saturday vs Toronto
03/22/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is out indefinitely
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season
03/12/18 G Marcus Smart Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kyle Lowry comes into this contest averaging 16.6 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Raptors. He pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is currently at 86%. DeMar DeRozan averages 23.3 points per game in 34 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.2 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game for Toronto. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Al Horford averages 12.8 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 7.4 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 75%. Jayson Tatum averages 13.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per contest and 1.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto averages 112.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.05 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 43.6 rebounds per game and 24.2 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 27th with 13.3 per game. The Raptors allow 104.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.4 rebounds a game which ranks 11th and they give up 22 assists per contest, which puts them in 9th place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 20th in the league with 104.1 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 4.04. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.4 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 22.4. The Celtics are 17th in turnovers per game with 14. The Celtics surrender 100.1 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 20.9 assists allowed per contest and 20th with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 106.2, and their offensive rating of 114.4 is ranked 25th. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 97.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. Toronto is 27th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 16th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 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 107.8, and their defensive rating of 103.6 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 15th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Toronto -3

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