San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics Betting Odds


Opening Line: Spurs +3.5 / Celtics -3.5 O/U 192

Time: 8 PM EST Sunday March 28, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in a non-conference match up the Boston Celtics host the San Antonio Spurs. Boston has won 2 straight and is 7-3 in their last 10 games and now have a 1 game lead over Atlanta for 3rd place in the East and the Celtics want to stay in 3rd so they would avoid playing King James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a possible 2nd round playoff match up.

The Spurs are coming off a win and are also 7-3 in their last 10 games and tied with Portland for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West. Both Portland and San Antonio have a comfortable 5.5 game lead over Memphis and each will likely make the playoffs, but each will battle it out in the last few games of the season to avoid the 8th spot so they do not have play the Lakers in a 1st round playoff series.

This season the Celtics are 23-12 at home and 29-41-1 ATS and the Spurs are 17-17 on the road and 36-35-1 ATS.

In their last games both teams won on Friday night, as the Celtics beat the Sacramento Kings 94-86 and the Spurs were impressive in beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-97.

The Celtics are 15-7 since the All Star break and they look to be peaking and getting healthy at the right time.

Paul Pierce (18.2 ppg) is averaging 24 ppg in his last 6 games and KG is finally healthy and had a monster game with 18 points and 13 boards in the Celtics' last win.

Many though the Spurs would sputter without star PG Tony Parker in the lineup, but they are 7-4 since losing him and starting in his place has been Manu Ginobili, who has been stellar averaging 23.8 ppg since becoming a starter.

The Celtics have won 5 of their last 6 games against the Spurs.

Both teams are not high scoring teams, but win with defense, as the Celtics rank 3rd in opponents' points allowed and the Spurs rank 8th.

The Spurs are a much better team on the boards with a rebounding differential of +3.0 while the Celtics are only at -1.0 so Kevin Garnett (7.5 rpg) and Kendrick Perkins (7.6 rpg) have to man the glass, especially not letting Tim Duncan (10.2 rpg) dominate the glass.

With Parker out backup PG George Hill has to play good defense on Rajon Rondo (13.6 ppg 9.8 assists per game) and not let him penetrate and dish out to the Celtics' shooters of Pierce and Ray Allen (16.3 ppg).

Betting Trends

San Antonio is 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games, and has an Over record of 4-1-1 in their last 6 games.

Boston is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games, 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games as a home favorite, and has an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%.

San Antonio is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against Boston.

Our Selection : Take Boston -3.5


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