The Portland Trail Blazers travel to the TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Here’s a Celtics vs Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include a Celtics vs Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the hottest teams in the league as they’ve won 11 of their last 15 games overall. They will be eager to bounce back in this one after having their four-game win streak snapped by the Raptors in a 110-98 loss on Friday. Jrue Holiday led the team with 21 points and seven assists on nine of 14 shooting, Sheadon Sharpe added 21 points with seven rebounds and four assists, Tounami Camara scored 16 points while Donovan Clingan tallied 13 points with 16 rebounds. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot just 40 percent from the field and 13 of 45 from the 3-point line as they really struggled to find their rhythm and scored just 12 points in the first quarter. The Trail Blazers clawed their way back into the contest but just couldn’t get over the hump, but fatigue may have been a factor given that they were playing their second game of a back to back set.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics have been in pretty good shape lately as they’ve won four of their last six games overall. But they are coming into this one fresh off a loss after falling just short to the Bulls in a 114-111 defeat on Saturday. Jaylen Brown led the team with 33 points with eight rebounds and five assists, Anfernee Simons added 21 points with five assists off the bench while Derrick White chipped in with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the Celtics shot 44 percent from the field and 15 of 47 from the 3-point line as they battled an inspired Bulls squad in a close contest they were winning until they went cold. They scored just eight points in the final 6:31 to allow the Bulls to snatch the game at the end.
Why the Boston Celtics will win
- The Celtics have won each of their last 12 home games against Western Conference opponents after losing as favorites.
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last eight road games against Atlantic Division opponents that held a winning record.
- The Celtics have covered the spread in each of their last six games against Western Conference opponents after losing as favorites.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six night games against Celtics teams that held a winning record.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Celtics have lost each of their last three games as home favorites against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Trail Blazers have won three of their last four games as underdogs against the Celtics following a loss.
- The Celtics have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 games as home favorites against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in eight of their last nine road games on the first leg of a back-to-back against Eastern Conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last six road games have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Celtics’ last seven Monday games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Boston Celtics Player Facts
- Payton Pritchard has recorded 10 games with 4+ assists and zero turnovers this season – most of any player in the league.
- Derrick White is the only qualified player in the league to be leading their team in blocks per game (1.5) and free-throw percentage (88.8%) this season.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranks 1st in the league for second chance points (170) this season.
- Shaedon Sharpe ranks 6th in the league for fast break points (162) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Celtics rank 1st in the league for opponent steals per game this season (5.7).
- The Celtics rank 1st in the league for turnovers per game this season (12.0).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent steals per game this season (10.5).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (6.3).
Celtics vs Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers are still missing a bunch of players including Kris Murray, Scoot Henderson, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley, but they could have Deni Avdija back in action as he has been upgraded to day to day. Meanwhile, the Celtics are still missing Jayson Tatum. The Celtics open as heavy favorites at home which comes as no surprise, especially given that they are coming into this one fresh off a rare defeat. However, the Trail Blazers beat the Celtics by 114-108 back on Dec. 28, and I think they are playing well enough to at least keep this to single digits in the end.