NBA Betting Preview: Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs

Added on Mar 31, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

NBA betting on Thursday night features a pair of games for the weekly TNT TV doubleheader including what the announcers will call a ‘NBA Finals Preview’ as the Boston Celtics head to Texas to take on the San Antonio Spurs. Celtics are in a second place in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat, 2 1/2 games behind the red hot Chicago Bulls. The Spurs are holding on to the Western Conference lead but have seen their margin over the second place Los Angeles Lakers drop to 3 1/2 games.

Boston Celtics at San Antonio Spurs
March 31, 2011 5:05 PM Pacific

Neither team in great form at the moment and both are dealing with injuries. Celtics have lost 3 of their last 4 SU and have been on a horrible pointspread run dropping 10 of their last 14 verdicts against the number. Boston is getting healthier as the playoffs approach–Jermaine O’Neal is tentatively penciled in for tonight’s game after missing a good chunk of the season and he could be a very important contributor coming off the bench. Troy Murphy and Von Wafer are ‘day to day’ but would likely play in a more significant game. Rajon Rondo had been listed as suffering with an injured finger but he scored 22 points with 8 assists on Monday so it doesn’t look serious.

The situation is even more dire for the hometown Spurs–after going through most of the season injury free they’ve dealt with injuries to most of their starting lineup of late. Tim Duncan has missed several games with a sprained ankle though is listed as a ‘game time decision’ for tonight (Spurs insiders expect to see him play with reduced minutes). Manu Ginobili is officially ‘day to day’ though the ‘word on the streets’ is that he’ll play. Tony Parker has been suffering a bruised patella, but he’s expected to be in action here as well.

Boston’s tendency to underperform in the regular season is well known and in many ways the key to this handicap. In theory they’d obviously like to regain the top spot in the conference, but they’re a veteran team and well aware that there’s no reason to do so if it puts a long playoff run at risk. Celtics have run away with their division–they’ve already clinched and hold a 13 game lead over the Sixers. San Antonio is facing pressure not only in the conference standings from the surging Lakers but are only 4 games ahead of Dallas in the divisional table. It’s apparent that the Spurs have ‘circled’ this game with all of their injured stars expected to play. Celtics just 12-17 ATS against the Western Conference while Spurs are 14-3 SU/11-4-2 ATS in revenge spots. We’re getting good value due to the recent Spurs injuries and the Celts’ status as a ‘public’ team. At this price San Antonio just needs the outright win and they’re 33-4 SU at home this year.

Bet San Antonio Spurs -1 over Boston Celtics