Jazz vs. Celtics Prediction
Are the Celtics a good bet to cover as a home favorite tonight when they host the Jazz at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Celtics are now 5.5-point home favorites versus the Jazz after opening as a 6-point favorite when the line was first released to the public. The total, meanwhile, hit the board at 201 but has been bet down a full point to 200 at the majority of online and Vegas sports books.
According to Jazz beat writing Tony Jones, “barring a significant change in the coming hours,” guard George Hill (concussion) will not be available tonight when the team visits the Celtics. Hill has been in the NBA’s concussion protocol, so he will not be allowed to return to the lineup until he’s cleared by league doctors. In seven games, Shelvin Mack is averaging 12.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 31.8 minutes and he’ll start in Hill’s place again tonight.
The Celtics have a handful of players that are either questionable or out for tonight’s game. Tyler Zeller was released from the hospital after missing practice on Monday due to a sinus infection, but he’s questionable for tonight’s game. Marcus Smart, who has gastroenteritis, is listed as questionable after being admitted to the hopsital on Sunday night due to a stomach issue. Avery Bradley is also sick but was not listed on the team’s injury report for tonight, while James Young has been ruled out due to a right ankle sprain.
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OUR PREDICTION: The Jazz have been a bad bet against the Celtics, going 2-7-2 against the spread in their last 11 games versus Boston and 0-5-2 at the betting window in their last seven road games in this matchup. The home team is also 4-1 against the number in the last six meetings between these two teams while the favorite is 9-2-2 against the spread in the last 13 meetings. The Celtics have been a solid bet overall, going 6-2-1 against the spread in their last nine games, while the Jazz are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven contests.
TUESDAY NBA PREDICTION: BOSTON CELTICS -5.5