Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics - 12/22/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics

Date: Sunday, December 22, 2019

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NBC Sports Boston

Odds/Point Spread: Boston -13

Total/Over-Under: 209.5

Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics (19-7, 1st in the Atlantic Division) play the Charlotte Hornets (13-18, 2nd in the Southeast Division) at TD Garden on Sunday, December 22, 2019. Boston opens this matchup as 13 point favorites. The O/U is set at 209.5.

The Hornets are covering 54.8% of the time, having gone 17-14-0 ATS. Boston is covering 66.7% of the time, going 16-8-2 against the spread.

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

12/14/2019 P.J PF Finger Expected to be out until at least Dec 27

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/20/2019 Gordon Hayward SF Foot Expected to be out until at least Dec 22
12/19/2019 Marcus Smart PG Eye Expected to be out until at least Dec 22
12/18/2019 Vincent Poirier C Finger Expected to be out until at least Jan 20
12/16/2019 Robert Williams C Hip Expected to be out until at least Jan 6

Player Spotlight

Terry Rozier comes into this game averaging 17.0 points per contest while playing 33.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Devonte' Graham averages 19.1 points per contest in 34.3 minutes per game. He averages 7.5 assists per game and 3.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Jaylen Brown scores 19.9 points per contest while playing 33.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 6.9 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 76%. Jayson Tatum averages 21.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.9 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Charlotte averages 104.5 points per contest, which is 27th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -6.0 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 26th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They average 43.2 boards per contest and 23.7 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 16th with 15.3 per game. The Hornets allow 110.5 points per contest, which is 17th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 14th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they allow 27.2 assists per game which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 15th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 15th in the NBA with 110.9 points per contest this season. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 7.27. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 17th in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.7 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 23.1. The Celtics are 27th in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Celtics give up 103.6 points per game, which ranks them 2nd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 22.7 dimes allowed per game and 13th with 45.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 25th in the league in forcing turnovers with 16.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 112.7, and their offensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 24th. They are 28th in the NBA in pace with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA. Charlotte is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 5th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 26th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 24th in the NBA. The Celtics are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 104.2, and their offensive rating of 111.5 is ranked 5th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -13

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