Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers preview prediction and picks

The Boston Celtics (12-11, 12-11 ATS) and the Portland Trail Blazers (11-12, 9-14 ATS) will try to get back up after absorbing losses in their previous games.

The Blazers will enter their third straight homestand on Saturday as a slight -1 favorite over the Celtics, who sport a 6-7 road record. A relatively low total for this game set at 211 points on BetUs.com is something OVER bettors might exploit.

Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers Betting Lines

ATS: Celtics +1

Moneyline:

O/U: 211 points

Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers Team News

The Celtics will be taking on the Blazers without Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, according to Keith P. Smith of SB Nation. Brown is still dealing with tightness in his hamstring. Horford, meanwhile, is taking a day off on the last leg of a back-to-back schedule for Boston.

Stephen A. Smith of ESPN dropped another interesting yet brow-raising take surrounding Damian Lillard’s trade availability. The outspoken veteran writer believes it would take a trade to the New York Knicks to convince Damian Lillard to leave the Blazers.

“Damian Lillard does want to stay in Portland,” said Smith. “If you talk to him, his whole thing is, ‘I wanna be here. This is where I wanna be. This is where I wanna retire.’ The only thing that would really really tickle him and make him entertain leaving Portland, believe it or not, is going to the New York Knicks,” Smith says.

Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers Injury Report

Celtics: Al Horford – OUT (Back), Jaylen Brown – OUT (Hamstring), and Romeo Langford – Questionable (Ankle).

Blazers: Damian Lillard – OUT (Abdominal), Norman Powell – Probable (Nose), Anfernee Simmons – OUT (Ankle), and Nassir Little – OUT (Ankle)

Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers Preview

The Celtics saw their two-game win streak snapped by the Utah Jazz in a high-scoring affair, 137-130. Jayson Tatum erupted for 37 points and Dennis Schroder posted 26 points. Horford also posted 21 points, 9 assists and 6 assists in an excellent all-around game for the vet. However. The Celtics could not contain the backcourt duo of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell, who combined for 63 points.

The Blazers dropped a home game for the first time in a little while, losing to the resurging San Antonio Spurs, 114-83. Without Lillard, Portland relied on CJ McCollum and Norman Powell, who scored 16 points apiece. The Blazers let the Spurs build a 21-point first-half lead and never got the chance to mount a comeback.

Boston Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction

Bookmakers aren’t quite sure what this game present for their bettors. The Blazers will enter the game with a -1 point handicap. Portland’s 10-2 home slate and five straight wins against Eastern Conference foes influenced the ATS adjustment. Then again, playing without their top scorer makes them susceptible to any team, as they learned vs. the Spurs. The Celtics might not have Brown and Horford on the game, yet they still have Tatum carry the scoring load. Because of the same reason, Boston has a real shot at dealing the Blazers their third straight home loss. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last six games, but these two teams averaged a combined 243 points in the previous three games.