Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Prediction and Odds NBA 03/31

© Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics

On March 31, 2023, the Utah Jazz will face off against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Both teams have high hopes for the season and are looking to come out with a win in this game. The Jazz have a record of 36-40, with 14-24 on the road, and currently sit in fourth place in the Northwest standings. They are led by standout forward Lauri Markkanen, who averages 25.7 points per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton are also key contributors for the Jazz, averaging 4.4 and 3.0 assists per game respectively. The Celtics, on the other hand, have a record of 52-24, with 28-9 at home, and are currently in first place in the Atlantic standings. Jayson Tatum leads the team with an impressive 30.1 points per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Marcus Smart and Al Horford are also important players for the Celtics, averaging 6.3 and 6.2 assists per game respectively. Both teams have had success this season and will be looking to build on that in this matchup. The Jazz will need to work on their defense, currently ranked 24th in the league in points allowed per game at 117.8, in order to stop the Celtics' high-powered offense. The Celtics, on the other hand, will need to focus on their rebounding, as they currently rank 16th in the league in rebounds allowed per game at 51.6. Overall, this game promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented and competitive teams. It remains to be seen which team will come out on top, but one thing's for sure - this will be a game worth watching for NBA fans everywhere.

Jazz: Offensive Analysis

The Utah Jazz will be facing off against the Boston Celtics in what promises to be a thrilling matchup. In terms of their offensive performance so far this season, the Jazz have been sitting comfortably at the sixth spot in the league, boasting an average of 117.2 points per game. However, their defense has struggled, ranking 24th in the league with an average of 117.8 points allowed per game. Let's take a closer look at their offensive stats. Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): 54.9% (#15) The Jazz have been decent in terms of their eFG%, which takes into account the added value of three-pointers. While they're not the best, they're certainly not the worst either. Free Throw Attempt Rate (FTA/FGA): 0.270 (#14) The Jazz have been relatively good at drawing fouls, with a decent FTA/FGA ratio. However, they'll need to improve on this if they want to keep up with the Celtics, who rank third in this category. Three-Point Percentage (3P%): 35.7% (#19) The Jazz have struggled with their three-point shooting, with a below-average 3P%. If they want to stay competitive against the Celtics, they'll need to improve their accuracy from beyond the arc. Points in the Paint: 52.2 (#13) The Jazz have been decent at scoring in the paint, ranking 13th in the league. However, they'll be facing off against a Celtics team that ranks ninth in this category, so they'll need to step up their game in this area. Assists per Game: 25.9 (#10) The Jazz have been a pretty good passing team, ranking in the top ten in terms of assists per game. However, they'll need to continue to move the ball effectively if they want to keep up with the Celtics' strong defense. Overall, the Jazz have been a solid offensive team this season, but they'll need to improve in certain areas if they want to keep up with the Celtics. Their three-point shooting and ability to draw fouls will be particularly important in this matchup.

Jazz: Defensive Analysis

The Utah Jazz will be facing off against the Boston Celtics on March 31, 2023. In order to come out on top, the Jazz will need to bring their A-game defensively. Let's take a closer look at their defensive stats and how they compare to their opponents. First, let's look at their points allowed per game. The Jazz are currently ranked 24th in the league, allowing an average of 117.8 points per game. This is an area they will need to improve on if they want to contain the Celtics' offense, which is ranked 3rd in the league with an average of 118.0 points per game. Another area the Jazz will need to focus on is their opponents' shooting percentage. Currently, the Jazz have allowed an effective field goal percentage of 54.2%, which ranks 12th in the league. In contrast, the Celtics have an effective field goal percentage of 56.5%, which ranks 4th in the league. The Jazz will need to step up their defense and limit their opponents' shooting if they want a chance at winning. The Jazz are also struggling in terms of steals per game and steals per play, ranking 30th in both categories. This can be attributed to their lack of aggressiveness on defense. They will need to bring more intensity and pressure on their opponents in order to disrupt their offensive flow and capitalize on turnovers. Finally, the Jazz are ranked 5th in total rebounds per game, which is a bright spot for their defense. However, they will need to work on their defensive rebounding percentage, which currently ranks 4th from the bottom at 72.9%. This is an area where the Celtics excel, ranking 4th in defensive rebounding percentage at 78.2%. The Jazz will need to put in extra effort to box out and grab those defensive rebounds if they want to limit the Celtics' second-chance opportunities. Overall, the Jazz have some work to do on the defensive end if they want to come out victorious against the Celtics. They will need to improve their points allowed per game, opponent shooting percentage, and steals per game in order to contain the Celtics' high-powered offense. Additionally, they will need to focus on defensive rebounding and limit their opponents' second-chance opportunities. If the Jazz can step up defensively, they may have a chance at upsetting the Celtics.

Celtics: Offensive Analysis

The Boston Celtics are going into their matchup against the Utah Jazz with a strong offense. They currently rank third in the league in points per game with an average of 118.0 points. Their average score margin is also impressive, sitting at +6.0, ranking them first in the league. With players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have a potent offensive attack. Tatum scores an average of 30.1 points per game with a 46.2% field goal percentage and an 85.4% free throw percentage. Meanwhile, Brown averages 24.3 points per game with a field goal percentage of 47.0% and a three-point percentage of 39.7%. Boston's assist game is also strong, with an average of 26.5 assists per game, ranking them seventh in the league. This indicates that they have excellent ball movement and are skilled at finding the open man on the court. One area in which the Celtics struggle is their free throw attempts per game, where they only rank 27th in the league with an average of 21.8 attempts. However, they make up for this with their effective field goal percentage, which ranks fourth in the league at 56.5%. The Jazz have a tough defense, so the Celtics will need to work hard and utilize their strong offensive players and ball movement to put up points. If they can do so, they have an excellent chance of coming out on top in this matchup.

Celtics: Defensive Analysis

The Boston Celtics have been a solid defensive team all season, ranking sixth in the NBA in points allowed per game at 112.0. Led by the dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have been able to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities while also creating turnovers. One area where the Celtics have excelled this season is on the perimeter. They rank in the top five in both three-pointers made and attempted by opponents, holding teams to just 34.9% shooting from beyond the arc. This is due in large part to the defensive prowess of Brown and Marcus Smart, who are both adept at guarding multiple positions and disrupting passing lanes. The Celtics also have a strong defensive presence in the paint, as they rank in the top ten in both points allowed and field goal percentage allowed inside. This is thanks to the contributions of big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III, who provide a solid interior presence and are both strong shot blockers. Overall, the Celtics have the personnel and defensive strategy to shut down opposing offenses and make life difficult for Jazz star Lauri Markkanen. With a strong defensive effort, the Celtics have a good chance of coming away with a victory in this matchup.

Injury Report

Utah Jazz: - Jordan Clarkson (PG) - Doubtful for March 31 game due to undisclosed reasons. - Rudy Gay (SF) - Doubtful for March 31 game due to back spasms. - Collin Sexton (PG) - Doubtful for March 31 game due to ankle injury. - Lauri Markkanen (PF) - Doubtful for March 29 game due to hip injury. - Kelly Olynyk (PF) - Doubtful for March 29 game due to knee injury. Boston Celtics: - Payton Pritchard (PG) - Doubtful for March 29 game due to ankle injury. - Robert Williams III (C) - Doubtful for March 29 game due to knee injury. - Grant Williams (PF) - Doubtful for March 29 game due to ankle injury.

Betting Trends Analysis

The Utah Jazz are currently facing some injury concerns heading into their matchup against the Boston Celtics. Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and Kelly Olynyk are all currently listed as doubtful, which could impact the team's performance. Despite these injury concerns, the Jazz have been able to cover the spread in 42 out of their 76 games so far this season. On the other hand, the Celtics have only covered the spread in 41 out of their 76 games. This indicates that while the Jazz may be dealing with injuries, they have been more successful at covering the spread than the Celtics. When looking at the over/under, the Jazz have gone over the total in 42 out of their 76 games, while the Celtics have gone over the total in 41 out of their 76 games. This suggests that the Jazz have been slightly more successful in hitting the over compared to the Celtics. It is also worth noting that the Jazz currently have a record of 3-3 against the spread in their last six games, while the Celtics have a record of 2-4 against the spread in their last six games. Additionally, the Jazz have gone over the total in four out of their last six games, while the Celtics have gone over the total in three out of their last six games. Overall, while the Jazz may be dealing with injuries, they have been more successful at covering the spread and hitting the over compared to the Celtics this season. However, recent trends suggest that both teams have struggled to cover the spread and hit the over in their last few games.

Prediction: Celtics will win against Jazz

Despite both teams having similar overall records, the Boston Celtics have a much better record at home while the Utah Jazz have struggled on the road. Additionally, the Celtics have been playing consistent basketball over their past five games, winning four of them including a blowout win against the Spurs. On the other hand, the Utah Jazz have struggled with injuries to key players and have not been able to maintain their early season success. The Celtics should be able to dominate this game and cover the spread. 

Pick: Celtics to cover the spread