Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz will be looking to get back in the win column when they take on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in their mid-week matchup of NBA championship contenders. With the Jazz looking to snap out of a recent funk and the C’s looking to remain one of the hottest teams in the league, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA Odds for the Celtics vs Jazz.
Celtics vs Jazz 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
- TV: ESPN, ATRM, NBSB
- NBA Odds: Utah -4.5 / Total: 218.5
Why Bet On Boston
The Celtics have won eight of their last 10 games and bounced back nicely from their loss against the Lakers on Sunday to take down Portland 118-106 on Tuesday night, Blossoming all-star forward Jayson Tatum continued his torrid play by scoring a team-high 36 points one game after trying his career high of 41 against LeBron James and company. Tatum made a career-high eight three-pointers and is averaging 36 points per game over his last four while shooting a blistering 21-of-39 from beyond the arc.
“I’m just trying to play free,” Tatum said afterward. “Go out there and do what I love. I love coming here and playing basketball with my guys and trying to win. Hopefully we keep winning.”
Still-blossoming swingman Jaylen Brown added 24 points and seven rebounds in the win.
“They’re really great complements. They really are,” Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters of his young stars. “They’ve done a great job playing off of one another.”
The Celtics average 113.4 points per game (8th) while limiting the opposition to 106.5 points per contest defensively (4th). Boston has gone 16-12 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 113.4
- Field Goal %: 46.26
- Three Point %: 36.63
- Free Throw %: 80.18
- Total Rebounds: 45.86
Defense
- Total Score: 106.54
- Field Goal %: 44.11
- Three Point %: 34.4
- Free Throw %: 76.04
- Total Rebounds: 43.96
Boston Celtics Betting Trends
- Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games.
- Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
- Celtics are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games as an underdog.
- Celtics are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog.
- Celtics are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Why Bet On Utah
The Jazz have dropped three in a row with each loss taking place at home, including Monday’s 131-111 defeat against Phoenix despite getting a phenomenal performance from shooting guard Donovan Mitchell who scored a game-high 38 points.
“I love our coaching staff,” Mitchell told reporters. “They break it down, every detail. That’s why this hurts a little bit because at some point you can give us every answer to the exam but we’ve got to go out there and do our own part.”
The 131 points the Suns scored were the second most allowed by the Jazz this season who also committed a whopping 20 turnovers in the loss.
“When you play the way we’ve been playing, there’s a lot more bad than good right now,” small forward Joe Ingles said after the loss. “It’s draining. … It’s just embarrassing.”
Utah averages 111.1 points per game (17th) while allowing 107.9 points per game defensively (9th). The Jazz have gone 20-8 at home this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.12
- Field Goal %: 47.36
- Three Point %: 38.39
- Free Throw %: 77.26
- Total Rebounds: 45.51
Defense
- Total Score: 107.95
- Field Goal %: 45.15
- Three Point %: 35.01
- Free Throw %: 76.9
- Total Rebounds: 42.54
Utah Jazz Betting Trends
- Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Jazz are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Jazz are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
- Jazz are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
- Jazz are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Celtics vs Jazz Expert Analysis and Prediction
I know the Utah Jazz are playing at home and that they’re quite desperate right now, but I believe the young Boston Celtics are going to show up in a big way to hand the Jazz another loss that leaves them reeling. Jayson Tatum is playing like a top five superstar right now and Boston is getting a bunch of consistently solid contributions from guys like Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart among others. While Boston has gone a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last four games, Utah is an uninspiring 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight home games. The Jazz struggle to score the ball and they don’t have many players that can create their own shot outside of the gifted Spyda Mitchell. Boston covers the chalk by winning outright!
Pick: Celtics 109 Jazz 105
