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Trail Blazers vs Celtics Pick – NBA Predictions & Odds 3/17/23

Boston Celtics (48-22) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (31-38)
March 17, 2023 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Portland Trail Blazers +3.5; Over/Under: -
(Get latest betting odds)

The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Boston Celtics at the Moda Center on Friday night.

The Boston Celtics have been building nicely as they’ve won three of their past four games and they will be eager to stay hot after sneaking past the Timberwolves in a 104-102 road win on Wednesday. Jaylen Brown led the team with 35 points and 10 rebounds on 12 of 24 shooting, Jayson Tatum added 22 points with 12 rebounds on four of 16 shooting while Al Horford chipped in with 11 points and five assists. As a team, the Celtics shot just 40 percent from the field and 12 of 40 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest with 33 points in the third quarter to build a 14-point lead, before they held on for the narrow win in a game that finished with a bunch of technical fouls.

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in a slump as they’ve lost seven of their last nine games overall and they will be hoping to snap a four-game skid after getting routed by the Knicks in a 123-107 loss on Tuesday. Damian Lillard led the team with 38 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Anfernee Simons added 22 points while Matisse Thybulle chipped in with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot just 38 percent from the field and 17 of 45 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 33 points in the first quarter to lead by 16 points early on, but they couldn’t maintain that pace and were always trailing after allowing the Knicks to explode for 42 points in the third quarter.

Looking at the betting trends, the Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a losing record. The Trail Blazers are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 home games, 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight games against a team with a winning record and 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.

Head to head, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings overall and the Celtics are 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Portland. The Celtics are shorthanded again as Payton Pritchard and Robert Williams are still out, and they have Jayson Tatum listed as questionable, while the Trail Blazers are keeping an eye on Jerami Grant who is listed as questionable due to right calf tightness. The Celtics have been playing well below their best lately, but they were able to snap out of their funk with a narrow win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday and I like their chances against this struggling Trail Blazers team who could be missing their best player. The Celtics are 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Portland and I’m backing that trend to continue in this one as the Celtics should be too good.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Boston -3.5

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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