NBA Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 11-09-2018, 21:30 EDT

Spread: Utah Jazz -4

Total: +209

In this battle between two team from opposite conferences, the third-best of the East Boston Celtics, are visiting the ninth-best in the West Utah Jazz, with both teams coming off single wins that snapped previous losing streaks and want to continue on the winning ways.

Celtics are 7-4 so far in the league and are sitting on the 3^rd place of the Eastern Conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 2-game losing skid with a road victory against Phoenix in overtime, 116-109. Jazz are 5-6 so far in the league and are tied with 2 more squads in the ninth place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 4-game losing skid with a home victory against Dallas, 117-102.

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Boston are led in scoring by Kyrie Irving with 21 ppg. He also adds 5 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 5.4 per game, while Marcus Morris adds 14.9 ppg and 7 rebounds per game off the bench. Jayson Tatum adds 14.6 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 7.2 per game. Utah are led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell with 22.4 ppg. He also adds 4.4 assists per game, while Rudy Gobert follows with 16.4 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 13.1 per game. Jae Crowder adds 14.2 ppg and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Last season those two teams met twice and each one was victorious on the road. Utah won with a 95-107 score and Boston 94-97. Utah are 1-4 at home so far, while Boston are 4-3 on the road. Utah have a better offense with 110.5 ppg to Boston’s 105.3 ppg, while Boston have the third-best defense in the league, allowing 102 ppg to Utah’s 109.5. Utah have a better accuracy from the field, shooting with 46.3% to Boston’s 42.7%, while Boston have a better accuracy from behind the arc, shooting with 35.4% to Utah’s 34.8%. Utah dish more assists per game (24.5 to 23.4), while Boston commit fewer turnovers per game (13.8 to 14.9) and are better in rebounding (48.2 to 42.4). Utah have been weak at home so far this season and expect Boston to take advantage of that and get away with the road win one way or another.

Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Prediction: Boston Celtics +4 (-111)