San Antonio Spurs vs Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 1/8/2020
Game: San Antonio Spurs vs Boston Celtics
Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA
TV: NBC Sports Boston
Odds/Point Spread: Boston -4.5
Total/Over-Under: 224
Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics (25-9, 1st in the Atlantic Division) play the San Antonio Spurs (15-20, 3rd in the Southwest Division) at TD Garden on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Boston opens this game as 4.5 point favorites. The total is set at 224.
The Spurs are covering the spread 38.2% of the time, having gone 13-21-1 ATS. Boston is covering 62.5% of the time, going 20-12-2 against the spread.
Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries
No key injuries to report
Key Boston Celtics Injuries
01/06/20 SG Jaylen Brown Shoulder is upgraded to probable Monday vs Washington
01/05/20 PG Kemba Walker Illness is downgraded to out Monday vs Washington
Player Spotlight
DeMar DeRozan comes into this contest averaging 21.7 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 81%. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 19.3 points per game in 33.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.4 assists per contest and 7.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.
Player Spotlight
Jaylen Brown averages 20.7 points per game while playing 33.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.2 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Jayson Tatum averages 21.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.9 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%.
Useful Team Statistics
San Antonio averages 113.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 3rd in the league. They average 46.8 rebounds per game and 24.5 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 26th with 13.2 per game. The Spurs allow 114.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 25th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 20th and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 16th and they give up 25.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.
Useful Team Statistics
Boston is 14th in the league with 110.9 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 7.3. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 46.2 boards per game, and 21st in assists per contest with 23.1. The Celtics are 22nd in turnovers per game with 13.9. The Celtics surrender 103.5 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 22.8 assists allowed per contest and 9th with 44.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 25th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.9 per game.
Advanced Statistics
The Spurs are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111, and their defensive rating of 112.2 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 13th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. San Antonio is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league.
Advanced Statistics
Boston is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA. The Celtics are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 104.2, and their offensive rating of 111.5 is ranked 3rd. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA.
Who will win tonight's Spurs/Celtics NBA game against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take San Antonio +4.5
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Additional Resources:
Boston Celtics - Twitter
San Antonio Spurs - Twitter