TNT Game 1: Boston Celtics (34-26) @ Brooklyn Nets (31-28)
Lines/News: The Celtics are favored by seven points and the O/U is 214. The Celtics crushed the Nets 126-91 on February 8. Before the All-Star break, the Nets were 2-8 in their last 10 and the Celtics 9-1. The Nets will be without Kyrie Irving due to COVID protocols and Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons are also expected to be out for Brooklyn.
Celtics Trends: The Celtics are 1-5 against the spread (ATS) against the Nets on the road in their last six games but did blowout the Nets earlier this month. The Celtics are 4-1 ATS on the road in their last five games. The Celtics are 10-4 ATS as away favorites this season.
Nets Trends: The Nets are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games. The Nets are 3-17 ATS at home in their last 20 games. The Nets are 2-5-1 ATS after a loss in their last eight games.
Player Trends: Brooklyn’s Bruce Brown (O/U 5.5 rebounds) has recorded 6+ rebounds just one in his last six home games (16.67%, avg. 4.2 per game). He’s recorded 6+ rebounds in one of his last six (16.67%) games against a top 10 defense, averaging 3.8 per game, and three of his last 17 (17.65%) this season when his team is an underdog. At home vs. team with a winning record, he’s average 4.52 rebounds per game and has gone over 5 out of 25 games (20.00%)
Boston’s Jayson Tatum (O/U 3.5 assists) has recorded 4+ assists in 12 of his last 14 (85.71%) games, averaging 5.4. He’s gone over 10 of his last 11 (90.91%) games on the road (avg. 5.3) and 11 of his last 13 (84.62%) games when his team is the favorite (avg. 5.5). On the road, he’s averaged 4.42 assists per game and has gone over 3.5 assists in 15 out of 24 games (62.50%).
TNT Game 2: Golden State Warriors (42-17) @ Portland Trail Blazers (25-34)
Lines/News: Golden State is 9.5-point favorites and the O/U is 223.5. In their prior meeting in December, Golden State defeated Portland 104-94. The Warriors are 6-4 in their last 10, but lost their last two games. Portland is just 4-6 in their last 10 games but won their last four.
Warriors Trends: The Warriors are 0-6-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven games. They are 3-7-1 ATS on the road in their last 11. Against a team with a losing record in their last five games, the Warriors are 0-4-1 ATS . With at least three or more days of rest this season, the Warriors are 3-0-1 ATS, but of course the Blazers are well-rested too off the All-Star break.
Blazers Trends: Portland is 4-1 ATS as underdogs in their last five games. The Blazers are 15-16-1 ATS at home this season. Coming off a game in which they have covered, they are 5-2 ATS in their last seven.
Player Trends: Golden State’s Stephen Curry (O/U 6.5 assists) has recorded 7+ in six of his last eight (75%) games when his team is the favorite, averaging 7.5 per game. He’s hit at least seven dimes in eight of his last nine (88.89%) games against a team with a losing record (avg. 8.2) and five of his last five (100%) games against a bottom-10 defense (averaging 8.8).
Portland’s Josh Hart (O/U 1.5 three-pointers) has recorded 2+ three-pointers in six of his last eight (75%) games when he shot at least 55% from the floor last game (avg. 2.5 per game). Since CJ McCollum was traded to New Orleans Pelicans, Hart has drained at least two threes in three-straight games.