Los Angeles Clippers @ Boston Celtics 8 PM ET/7 PM CT

(BOS -1.5, TOTAL: 227.5)

Welcome to the final night of NBA games before the All-Star Break! We start this Thursday night two-gamer off with a clash between two top teams in their respective conferences. The Boston Celtics, currently sitting as the three-seed in the East with a record of 37-16, will play host to the Los Angeles Clippers, who also currently sit as a three-seed in the West with the exact same record of 37-16. Let’s kick this off with a little bit of head-to-head history, along with some current scheduling tidbits. These two teams faced off just once this season, the game was in LA, with the Clippers winning an over-time thriller with a final score of 104-107. This game had a spread of Clippers -7.5 points, and a 218.5 over/under. The Celtics lost the game in the win/loss column, however, Boston came out victorious in the eyes of spread bettors, along with the Under cashing, even with the game going to over-time.

The Clippers will end a four-game road trip tonight in Boston, as they have lost two of their last three contests, including their last game in Philadelphia, with a final score of 103-110. The Celtics come into tonight’s contest winners of their last four-of-five games, losing their last game as well in Houston to the Rockets, with a final score of 105-116. So, both teams looking to get back on track, and back in the winning column for tonight’s TNT national televised tilt.

Now, we get into the good stuff, let’s talk about some of the statistics for these two squads. In terms of PACE, the Clippers have been a fast team all season, as they have run with the 8th ranked PACE over the course of the season, as well as the 10th ranked PACE over their last ten games. The Celtics have run mid-pack in terms of PACE, and have ranked 17th in both season and over the course of their last ten games. Looking at total rebounds, assists, points per game, turnovers, and total possessions, the Celtics rank 13th in total rebounds at 45.6 per game, 21st in total assists at 23.3 per game, 8th least total turnovers at 13.8 per game, 12th in total points per game at 102.8, and finally, 17th in total possessions at 102.8 per game. For the Clippers, they rank 3rd in total rebounds at 48.0 per game, 17th in total assists at 23.9 per game, 20th, or 12th most in turnovers at 14.9 per game, 6th in total points per game at 115.6, and finally, 9th in total possessions at 105.8 per game.

To talk a little DvP, or Defense vs Position, well, there is only one instance for these two teams. The Clippers are allowing the 6th most fantasy points to opposing Shooting Guards on the season.

Injuries to watch for: Patrick Beverly is already listed at OUT, while Jaylen Brown is a game-time-decision to take the court tonight.

TOP-TIER: Jayson Tatum (usage leader), Paul George (price)

MID-TIER: Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris (revenge)

PUNT/VALUE: Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis, Montrezel Harrell, Landry Shamet, Brad Wanamaker

Favorite Plays: Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis

Top Fades: KAWHI Leonard (priced too high for me tonight), Jaylen Brown (calf injuries suck)

 

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans 8 PM ET/7 PM CT

(NOP -2.5, TOTAL: 231.5)

You won’t have to wait all night to watch both games here on this Thursday before the break, as both games start at the same time! In the second game of this two-game set, we have the OKC Thunder traveling into New Orleans to take on the Pelicans. The Thunder currently sit as the seventh-seed in the West, with a current record of 32-22, while their opponents, the Pelicans are currently sitting five-games back from the eight-seed in the West, with a current record of 23-31. For some head-to-head history, and some scheduling notes, these two teams have faced off three times already this season, with the Thunder winning two of the three, and covering the spread number as well. All three of the meetings also fell UNDER the posted totals of 226.5, 229.5, and 228.5. A fun fact: the Pelicans have scored exactly 104 points in all three meetings!

For some statistical measures on these two teams, we will begin with PACE. The Thunder rank 24th in terms of PACE out of 32 teams over their last 10 games, and also rank 23rd for the course of the season. The Pelicans have been one of the fastest teams in the league, denoted by their total number of possessions per game below, and have ran with the 3rd fastest PACE on the season, as well as the 2nd fastest over their last 10 contests. In terms of total rebounds, assists, turnovers, points per game, and possessions per game, the Thunder rank 22nd in total rebounds at 43.1 per game, 27th in total assists at 21.9 per game, committing the 7th least number of turnovers per game at 13.6, averaging the 19th most points per game at 110.4, and finally, 23rd in total number of possessions at 102.2 per game. For the Pelicans, they rank 5th in total rebounds at 46.6 per game, 6th in total assists at 26.2 per game, committing the 3rd MOST turnovers at 16.0 per game, rank 4th in the league in total points per game at 115.7, and lastly, rank 2nd in total number of possessions per game at 107.9.

For some DvP talk, there is only a few for the Pelicans, see below:

NOP are allowing the 5th most FPs to opposing Shooting Guards over their last 10 games.

NOP have allowed the MOST FPs to opposing Point Guards, the 5th most FPs to the Shooting Guard spot, as well as the MOST FPs to opposing Small Forwards on the season at the current point in time.

Injuries to watch for: Brandon Ingram is listed as a game-time-decision currently.

TOP-TIER: Zion Williamson (leading usage 30.9% L5), Jrue Holiday (if no Ingram, 45/61 FP last two without Ingram), Chris Paul (38+ FP L3 games), Brandon Ingram (IF a FULL-GO)

MID-TIER: Dennis Schroder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Lonzo Ball

PUNT/VALUE: Steven Adams, JJ Redick, Josh Hart, Frank Jackson, Nicoli Melli, Derrick Favors

Favorite Plays: Zion Williamson, Jrue Holiday, Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, JJ Redick, Steven Adams

Top Fades: Lonzo Ball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Derrick Favors