Recent Play Details

4% Boston (9:05 ET): This will be the Celtics’ fifth straight road game and it’s the second night of a back to back, but I’ll still back them laying a short number against the Jazz. Boston, who trails Milwaukee by 1.5 games for the top spot in the East, won last night by a score of 126-112 over Portland. There’s always a concern someone could be given the night off here, but the bottom line is Boston is vastly superior to Utah. 

The Jazz being a playoff contender is a bit of a shock as the books had them as one of the worst teams in the league coming into the season. They have long since surpassed their preseason win total. But the hardest remaining schedule in the league awaits them and I do not see Utah making the play-in tournament.  I know they’ve been off for four days, but I still like to fade teams in their first home game back after a trip of 5+ games. The Jazz were 4-2 ATS, but 2-4 SU on their recently completed six-game trip. 

I think because of how the schedule sets up (Jazz rested, Celtics not) we’re getting a real discount on the superior team here. Boston is top four in both offensive and defensive efficiency and remains #1 overall in my power ratings. Utah is 23rd in the power ratings and has a bottom seven defensive rating. The Celtics are 8-2 SU/7-2-1 ATS on the second night of a back to back. 4% Boston