Boston Celtics (24-6) vs. San Antonio Spurs (4-25)
Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs 12/31/23 – The Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are set to face off in an intriguing NBA matchup on Sunday. The Celtics, with an impressive 24-6 record, will visit the struggling Spurs, who stand at a challenging 4-25, at the Frost Bank Center for a 7:00 PM ET game. This clash, to be televised on BSSW, offers a stark contrast in team fortunes, drawing attention from fans and bettors seeking free daily predictions for their NBA lineup.
The Boston Celtics have been an impressive team this season, scoring an average of 120.1 points per game – the highest average in the league. Their strong offensive attack has been balanced out with strong defense that yields 6.3 blocks and 6.8 steals per game – and with their field goal percentage at 48 percent and their 37.6% success rate from three-point range, their scoring has been both efficient and lethal – a key reason behind their success.
Contrastingly, the San Antonio Spurs have struggled this season. Averaging 110.9 points per game and boasting an inefficient field goal percentage (45.4%) with 34.5% three-point shooting efficiency has proven difficult. While they average 29.1 assists per game indicating good ball movement, their high turnover rate (15.3 per game) has often cost them valuable possessions.
Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs 12/31/23 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Frost Bank Center |
| TV: | BSSW |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Jayson Tatum (SF) vs. Devin Vassell (SG)
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has reached new heights this season, setting career-best numbers in points (26.7), rebounds (8.5) and field goal percentage (48%). His versatile scoring ability makes him virtually unstoppable while providing strong perimeter defense. But Tatum has struggled with turnovers (2.9 per game) and shot selection at times; against an aggressive Spurs defense he must make smart shots to stay relevant.
Devin Vassell has been one of the lone bright spots this dreary season. Vassell is averaging 18.1 points while shooting over 40% from three-point range. His scoring punch and floor spacing gives the Spurs a fighting chance against elite teams. Nevertheless, Vassell has yet to emerge as a primary creator or show superstar upside. Against elite defenders like Tatum and Brown, it will be an uphill battle for the young Vassell.
This marquee matchup of talented scorers will likely decide if the Spurs can keep pace with the Celtics’ high-powered attack. Tatum clearly has the edge over Vassell right now, but the Spurs guard won’t back down from the challenge.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
As the odds are yet to be announced, the prediction leans towards the Celtics given their superior record and overall team performance. However, the Spurs’ resilience at home and their tendency to surprise could play a role.
Boston Celtics Betting Trends
Boston is 4-1 straight up and 4-1 against the spread over their last five contests. The Celtics have covered fairly easily recently, winning by an average of 12.2 points per game over this stretch. Boston’s offense has hummed along during this span, scoring 118 points or more in four of five games. Their scoring barrage combined with questionable defense has led to high-scoring games. With a middling total set for this matchup, Boston’s red-hot offense looks primed to push them over 224.5 points.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
On the flip side, things have only gotten worse for the struggling Spurs of late. San Antonio has lost five straight games straight up, failing to cover the spread in four of those. Gregg Popovich’s team is getting trounced by 14.6 points per game in their last five outings. However, Spurs games have been scoring bonanzas recently. The over cashed in four of their last five outings as they allowed a whopping 125.6 points per game.
Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs 12/31/23 Betting Picks
The analysis and trends suggest the Celtics as the clear favorites in this matchup. Their dominant offensive and defensive play, led by Tatum, makes them a strong pick against the struggling Spurs. However, considering the Spurs’ performance at home, there could be value in looking at over/under bets, especially with both teams trending towards high-scoring games. This game offers premium expert advice for bettors looking for a relatively safer pick with potential for high-scoring outcomes.
Free Pick and Prediction: Boston Celtics 118, San Antonio Spurs 105