by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Where to watch: NBCSB, ROOT-SP+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Celtics -10.5
FanDuel: Celtics -10.5
BetMGM: Celtics -10.5
Caesars: Celtics -10.5
Season record
Blazers: 31-34
Celtics: 45-21
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
Blazers - Celtics preview, prediction and analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers will be playing the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, March 8 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Portland Trail Blazers won against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, March 6 in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 110-104. The Portland Trail Blazers currently rank 3rd in the Northwest Division.
Damian Lillard had 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, securing his second triple-double of the season and third of his career before the end of the third quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Detroit Pistons 110-104 on Monday night.
Lillard scored 16 points in the first quarter to give the Trail Blazers a 31-18 lead, and they had little trouble keeping a comfortable margin against a banged-up and slumping team for most of the night.
“He came out and set the tone for us,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “He usually does.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound dynamic guard also hit the boards for his undersized team, grabbing three more than he had in any other game this season.
“We are kind of small and we need him in there right now,” Billups said. “He's going to fight with the big guys. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes.”
Detroit pulled within six points with 1:39 left to fire up the previously quiet fans, and Jerami Grant quieted them with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Grant finished with 26 points against his former team.
Cam Reddish had 13 points, Trendon Watford scored 12 and Drew Eubanks added 10 points for the Trail Blazers, who have won two straight for the first time in a month to strengthen their hopes of rallying into the playoffs.
“I don’t mind floating under the radar," Billups said. “I just want us to get healthy and see if we can make the push that that I believe we can.”
The Portland Trail Blazers have won four of their last 10 games.
The Boston Celtics lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, March 6 in Cleveland, Ohio with a score of 118-114. The Boston Celtics currently rank 1st in the Atlantic Division.
Jaylen Brown scored 32 and Malcolm Brogdon 24 for the Celtics, who didn't arrive at their hotel in Cleveland until 2:30 a.m. after losing to the New York Knicks in double overtime on Sunday.
But even missing All-Star Game MVP Jayson Tatum, who stayed behind in Boston to rest along with center Al Horford after the taxing loss to the Knicks, the Celtics were up by double digits with seven minutes left.
And, they had a chance to win in the final second of regulation, but Grant Williams missed two free throws with 0.8 seconds left and Marcus Smart barely missed a tip-in at the horn as the teams went to OT tied at 109-all.
Williams had confidently told Mitchell he was going to make both shots before his misfires.
“He gave us both, but I didn't box out Marcus Smart for the tip and that's what I'm thinking about,” Mitchell said. “Thank God he missed 'em and we got the win.”
While energizing the Cavs, the misses hurt the Celtics, who were on fumes.
“It’s definitely a little deflating,” Brogdon said. "We were up 10-12 points with three minutes left. We shouldn’t have let it get to that point. We shouldn’t have to rely on free throws. It’s not his fault.”
The Boston Celtics have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Not really feeling Portland having a chance here. Celtics 110, Blazers 99
The Portland Trail Blazers won against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, March 6 in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 110-104. The Portland Trail Blazers currently rank 3rd in the Northwest Division.
Damian Lillard had 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, securing his second triple-double of the season and third of his career before the end of the third quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Detroit Pistons 110-104 on Monday night.
Lillard scored 16 points in the first quarter to give the Trail Blazers a 31-18 lead, and they had little trouble keeping a comfortable margin against a banged-up and slumping team for most of the night.
“He came out and set the tone for us,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “He usually does.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound dynamic guard also hit the boards for his undersized team, grabbing three more than he had in any other game this season.
“We are kind of small and we need him in there right now,” Billups said. “He's going to fight with the big guys. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes.”
Detroit pulled within six points with 1:39 left to fire up the previously quiet fans, and Jerami Grant quieted them with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Grant finished with 26 points against his former team.
Cam Reddish had 13 points, Trendon Watford scored 12 and Drew Eubanks added 10 points for the Trail Blazers, who have won two straight for the first time in a month to strengthen their hopes of rallying into the playoffs.
“I don’t mind floating under the radar," Billups said. “I just want us to get healthy and see if we can make the push that that I believe we can.”
The Portland Trail Blazers have won four of their last 10 games.
The Boston Celtics lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, March 6 in Cleveland, Ohio with a score of 118-114. The Boston Celtics currently rank 1st in the Atlantic Division.
Jaylen Brown scored 32 and Malcolm Brogdon 24 for the Celtics, who didn't arrive at their hotel in Cleveland until 2:30 a.m. after losing to the New York Knicks in double overtime on Sunday.
But even missing All-Star Game MVP Jayson Tatum, who stayed behind in Boston to rest along with center Al Horford after the taxing loss to the Knicks, the Celtics were up by double digits with seven minutes left.
And, they had a chance to win in the final second of regulation, but Grant Williams missed two free throws with 0.8 seconds left and Marcus Smart barely missed a tip-in at the horn as the teams went to OT tied at 109-all.
Williams had confidently told Mitchell he was going to make both shots before his misfires.
“He gave us both, but I didn't box out Marcus Smart for the tip and that's what I'm thinking about,” Mitchell said. “Thank God he missed 'em and we got the win.”
While energizing the Cavs, the misses hurt the Celtics, who were on fumes.
“It’s definitely a little deflating,” Brogdon said. "We were up 10-12 points with three minutes left. We shouldn’t have let it get to that point. We shouldn’t have to rely on free throws. It’s not his fault.”
The Boston Celtics have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Not really feeling Portland having a chance here. Celtics 110, Blazers 99
Projected starting lineup
Blazers:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Saedon Sharpe
SF: Cam Reddish
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Drew Eubanks
Celtics:
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Mike Muscala
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
