Portland Trail Blazers vs Boston Celtics Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 11/03/2024, 07:59  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The Portland Trail Blazers will welcome the Boston Celtics in their next NBA regular season assignment. Both teams are having contrasting seasons with Portland second from bottom in the Western Conference and Boston top in the East. The Blazers are coming off a morale-boosting 128-118 victory over the Raptors at home. Their 18th win of the season put to a halt a three-game skid and the hosts will be keen to build on this. Portland have been one of the whipping boys this season and possess the fifth-worst record. Chauncey Billups’ men have lost 45 games with 22 of those coming at home. The Blazers, who are averaging 109.4 points when at home, will be without Shaedon Sharpe, Malcolm Brogdan, Jerami Grant, and Jabari Walker. Deandre Ayton and Scoot Henderson are questionable.

The Celtics are also coming off a win. Joe Mazzulla’s men ended a two-game losing run by winning 117-107 against the Suns in Phoenix last time out. The win was their 49th in 63 games. Boston possess the best record in the NBA and have already secured a playoff spot. With 19 matches left to play, the Celtics cannot finish any lower than ninth. They also have an eight-game cushion on their closest challengers in the East. Boston are ranked in the top five in both offence and defence but their scoring has seen a dip in recent outings. They have averaged 110 points over their last three matches which is 10 points fewer than their season average. Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out of this trip with a hamstring issue. The centre is Boston’s third-leading scorer, averaging 20.4 points a game. Three of the last four meetings between the Blazers and Celtics have been won by the latter.