Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers Picks and Odds Dec 29
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers betting preview for Wednesday, December 29. At the time of posting, the Celtics are holding steady as a 6-point home favorite over the visiting Clippers, with the total sitting at 211 points.
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| Wed, Dec 29 | NBA Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Boston Celtics -6 vs Los Angeles Clippers |
| Total: | 211 Points |
| Game Time: | 7:40pm ET / 4:40pm PT |
| Arena: | TD Garden in Boston |
| TV: | NBC Sports Boston |
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers Analysis
The short-handed Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics will face off at the TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday night. The Celtics have returned home after losing two straight games on the road. The last game being a 108-103 loss in Minnesota to the Timberwolves. The Clippers have also lost two straight games, including a 124-108 loss against the Brooklyn Nets. The Clippers won the first head-to-head matchup in Los Angeles by a score of 114-111 on December 8th.
Both teams will be missing several key players for tonight’s game in Boston. The Clippers will be without their top two scorers in Paul George and Reggie Jackson. George will miss 3-4 weeks with a torn ligament in his elbow while Reggie Jackson is in the leagues health and safety protocols.
The Celtics will also be without the services of their top scorer, as Jayson Tatum has also entered the Covid protocol list. Dennis Schroder is also on that list and Marcus Smart is questionable with a hand injury.
The Los Angeles Clippers are now 17-17 after losing two straight and five of their last six games. The Clips have struggled to score all season as they rank 26th with an average of 105 points per game. Now they will be without their best scorers in George and Jackson.
The Clippers will have to rely on a stout defense that ranks 4th in defensive efficiency. They only allow 105.3 points a game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Marcus Morris Sr led the way in the Clippers last game with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
Right when the Celtics get Jaylen Brown back from a long absence, they lose Jayson Tatum to the Covid protocol list. Brown led the way last game against the Timberwolves with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The Celts dipped to 16-18 on the season after two straight road losses. Boston has now dropped 7 of their last 10 games and roster shakeup at the trade deadline may be imminent.
The Celtics are similar to the Clippers, in that they play excellent defense but struggle to consistently score. They are 9th in defensive efficiency as they hold opponents to just over 107 points per game. They play at the leagues 9th slowest pace and are a middling team in scoring with 108 points a game.
The Boston Celtics are favored by six points, while the over/under is only 211 points. Both teams are missing key scorers and floor generals, between George, Jackson, Tatum and Schroder. So they will be lacking in not only scoring, but offensive continuity as well.
These teams have been cash cows for under bettors. Both teams have played 34 games with the under cashing for Los Angeles 20 times and Boston 19 times. The under has also cashed in 4 of the Clippers last 5 games. Tough call on a side in this game, so we will make the under our official play.
Official Play: UNDER 211 Points
Interested in placing a bet on tonight’s Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers contest? BetMGM is offering a $1,000 Risk-Free Bet for first-time bettors in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Tennessee, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Washington DC, Wyoming, Mississippi, Arizona and Louisiana.
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Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers Preview from GoldSheet
Boston the latest side to be hit by Covid and injuries, losing star Jayson Tatum (out due to the illness), as he joins Marcus Smart (hand ?), G CJ Miles and C Enes (Freedom?) Kanter on the list. Celtic HC Ime Udoka will get no sympathy from LA counterpart Ty Lue, who has lost both his superstars (Kawhi Leonard has yet to play; Paul George out indefinitely with the elbow surgery) and currently has F Nicolas Batum (?; ankle) and PG Reggie Jackson (Covid; out) representing potential holes to fill.
Boston had won last 3 SU and covered 4 straight in the series before the two teams met in LA on Dec. 8 and the Clips took a 114-111 decision behind Kentucky rookie Brandon Boston Jr.’s career high 27 pts (hit 5 3-pointers) for Los Angeles. The Clips were without Paul George in that game as well, but the Celtics were led by Tatum, who had a game-high 29 pts. with 10 rebounds. Without Tatum or Smart, this one should be tight.
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers contest.
NBA Tip-Off Show
Join Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of guests for the NBA Tip-Off Show at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss tonight’s marquee games. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of professional handicappers as they preview tonight’s NBA action, including this Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Clippers clash, from a betting perspective.
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