Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics Predictions, NBA Parlay Picks 3/8/2020

Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NBA TV

Odds/Point Spread: Boston -2

Total/Over-Under: 225.5

TD Garden is the site where Kemba Walker and the Boston Celtics (42-20, 2nd in the Atlantic Division) will play the Oklahoma City Thunder (39-24, 3rd in the Northwest Division) on Sunday. Oklahoma City opens this matchup as 2 point underdogs. The over/under opens at 225.5.

The Thunder are covering the spread 61.9% of the time, having gone 39-24-0 ATS. Boston is covering 63.3% of the time, going 38-22-2 against the spread.

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

02/24/20 SG Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely
02/10/20 SF Darius Bazley Thumb is out indefinitely

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

03/06/20 SG Jaylen Brown Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Oklahoma City
03/06/20 SF Gordon Hayward Back is questionable Sunday vs Oklahoma City

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 17.5 points per contest in 31.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 6.8 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 90%. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this game averaging 19.3 points per contest while playing 35.1 minutes per night. He grabs 6.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 23.5 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.5 minutes per game. He also hauls in 7.1 rebounds per game and dishes 3.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 81%. Kemba Walker scores 21.6 points per contest while playing 31.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.1 rebounds per contest and has 5.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 108.4 points per contest which is 10th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 7th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.4 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they allow 23.1 assists per game which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Oklahoma City averages 110.9 points per contest, which is 19th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 5th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They average 42.7 boards per contest and 22.0 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 25th with 13.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics give up 106.8 points per game, which ranks them 2nd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 22.3 dimes allowed per game and 11th with 44.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 23rd in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per contest. Boston is 10th in the NBA with 113.1 points per contest this season. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 6.3. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 11th in the league. They are 9th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.0 boards per contest and 24th in assists per game with 22.9. The Celtics are 23rd in turnovers per contest with 13.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.8, and their defensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 9th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. Oklahoma City is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 23rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 26th in the league. The Celtics are 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.1, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 17th in the league with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 13th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Boston -2 and over 225.5 total points

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