While the Lakers and Bucks have virtually locked up the top seeds in their respective conferences, Utah and Boston still have plenty to fight for tonight, with crucial playoff seeding on the line. Sporting identical 6-4 records in their last 10 games, the Jazz come into TD Garden on a three-game win streak and the Celtics are coming off a 112-106 victory against Cleveland.
Utah’s Donovan Mitchell recorded a game-high 37-points in their only other meeting this season, a 114-103 Celtics win in Utah. Both teams had yesterday off.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Milwaukee is running away with the Eastern Conference this year, which leaves a battle for second place between the Celtics and the defending champion Toronto Raptors. The Celtics sit one game back of the Raptors and the two teams only meet once more this season, which leaves games like tonight as must-wins for a Celtics team looking to avoid a matchup with the Bucks in the playoffs for as long as possible.
The Jazz have gone 1-5-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven games when giving up 100 points or more in their previous game, while the Celtics have gone 7-1 ATS in the same situation. The over might be a smart option in this game as the last 16 games the Jazz have played on one day’s rest, the over is 12-4, while the Celtics last five games playing on one day’s rest the over is 4-1.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are still in the hunt for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, sitting only a half game back of Houston. Rudy Gobert is averaging 14 rebounds, third-best in the NBA, while Donovan Mitchell leads the team in points (24.6) and Joe Ingles’ 5.2 assists are best on the team. If beating the Celtics comes down to a team effort, the Jazz could be well positioned. Coming off a 112-106 win over the Knicks on Wednesday, all of the Jazz starters finished positive in plus/minus and every starter, besides Royce O’Neale who scored in double digits.
Boston Celtics
Another big game from Semi Ojeleye, who dropped a career-best 22-points against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, could be the X-Factor tonight. Ojeleye’s status has been upgraded to probable, with a groin injury, but if he can replicate his performance from last game and Jayson Tatum’s consistency continues, the Jazz could have their hands full with a Celtics team racing for second place in the conference. Tatum is averaging 23.6 points and is coming off a 32-point performance against the Cavaliers.
Who Will Win Jazz vs. Celtics?
Line History
No odds are available yet.
Injuries
Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)
Ed Davis (C)
Mike Conley (PG)
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Juwan Morgan (PF)
Mike Conley (PG)
Joe Ingles (SF)
Royce O'Neale (SF)
Royce O'Neale (SF)
Romeo Langford (SG)
Jaylen Brown (SG)
Vincent Poirier (C)
Robert Williams III (C)
Tremont Waters (PG)
Javonte Green (SG)
Jaylen Brown (SG)
Gordon Hayward (SF)
Vincent Poirier (C)
Romeo Langford (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Wright-Foreman (PG) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 16 / 08 / 20 | 3-4 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Wright-Foreman will miss an extended period after leaving the NBA bubble for a personal reason. |
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| Ed Davis (C) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Davis suffered an MLC injury in his left knee, and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Mike Conley (PG) | Prob Fri | Personal - 12 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Conley has returned to the NBA bubble after attending the birth of his son, but he is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets. |
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| Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) | Prob Mon | Knee - 12 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Mudiay is nursing soreness in his left knee, but he is projected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets. |
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| Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) | Ques Mon | Knee - 08 / 08 / 20 | 4-6 | 8-2 | + - |
|
Mudiay sat out the previous game due to soreness in his left knee, and it is unclear if he will take the court for Monday's contest versus the Mavericks. |
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| Juwan Morgan (PF) | Prob Thurs | Knee - 07 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Morgan is out of action with a sore right knee, but he is likely to return Thursday against the Spurs. |
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| Mike Conley (PG) | Prob Sat | Knee - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Conley missed the last game with a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that it will not prevent him from playing Saturday against the Nuggets. |
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| Joe Ingles (SF) | Prob Fri | Foot - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Ingles is projected to be available against the Spurs on Friday despite a sore right foot. |
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| Royce O'Neale (SF) | Prob Sat | Calf - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
O'Neale missed the previous contest due to right calf soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Nuggets on Saturday. |
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| Royce O'Neale (SF) | Prob Mon | Foot - 03 / 08 / 20 | 5-8 | 10-3 | + - |
|
O'Neale is battling a sore right foot, but he is likely to take the court against the Lakers on Monday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romeo Langford (SG) | out for season | Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20 | 2-3 | 4-1 | + - |
|
Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. |
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| Jaylen Brown (SG) | Prob Tues | Groin - 12 / 09 / 20 | 3-4 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat. |
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| Vincent Poirier (C) | Prob Tues | Personal - 03 / 09 / 20 | 6-5 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Robert Williams III (C) | Prob Thurs | Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20 | 6-5 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone. |
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| Tremont Waters (PG) | Prob Mon | Knee - 26 / 08 / 20 | 7-6 | 5-8 | + - |
|
Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors. |
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| Javonte Green (SG) | Prob Sun | Knee - 20 / 08 / 20 | 9-6 | 6-9 | + - |
|
Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat. |
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| Jaylen Brown (SG) | Prob Wed | Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20 | 10-6 | 6-10 | + - |
|
Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion. |
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| Gordon Hayward (SF) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20 | 10-7 | 6-11 | + - |
|
Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. |
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| Vincent Poirier (C) | Prob Wed | Groin - 16 / 08 / 20 | 10-7 | 6-11 | + - |
|
Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers. |
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| Romeo Langford (SG) | Prob Mon | Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 | 11-7 | 6-12 | + - |
|
Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers. |
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Line History
No odds are available yet.
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Injuries
Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)
Out indefinitely Personal - 16 / 08 / 20Ed Davis (C)
Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 08 / 20Mike Conley (PG)
Prob Fri Personal - 12 / 08 / 20Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Ques Mon Knee - 08 / 08 / 20Juwan Morgan (PF)
Prob Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20Mike Conley (PG)
Prob Sat Knee - 06 / 08 / 20Joe Ingles (SF)
Prob Fri Foot - 06 / 08 / 20Royce O'Neale (SF)
Prob Sat Calf - 06 / 08 / 20Royce O'Neale (SF)
Prob Mon Foot - 03 / 08 / 20Romeo Langford (SG)
out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20Jaylen Brown (SG)
Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20Vincent Poirier (C)
Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20Robert Williams III (C)
Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20Tremont Waters (PG)
Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20Javonte Green (SG)
Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20Jaylen Brown (SG)
Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20Gordon Hayward (SF)
Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20Vincent Poirier (C)
Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20Romeo Langford (SG)
Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Justin Wright-Foreman (PG) Out indefinitely Personal - 16 / 08 / 20 3-4 5-2 + - Wright-Foreman will miss an extended period after leaving the NBA bubble for a personal reason.
Ed Davis (C) Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Davis suffered an MLC injury in his left knee, and there is no timetable for return.
Mike Conley (PG) Prob Fri Personal - 12 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Conley has returned to the NBA bubble after attending the birth of his son, but he is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Mudiay is nursing soreness in his left knee, but he is projected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) Ques Mon Knee - 08 / 08 / 20 4-6 8-2 + - Mudiay sat out the previous game due to soreness in his left knee, and it is unclear if he will take the court for Monday's contest versus the Mavericks.
Juwan Morgan (PF) Prob Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Morgan is out of action with a sore right knee, but he is likely to return Thursday against the Spurs.
Mike Conley (PG) Prob Sat Knee - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Conley missed the last game with a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that it will not prevent him from playing Saturday against the Nuggets.
Joe Ingles (SF) Prob Fri Foot - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Ingles is projected to be available against the Spurs on Friday despite a sore right foot.
Royce O'Neale (SF) Prob Sat Calf - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - O'Neale missed the previous contest due to right calf soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Nuggets on Saturday.
Royce O'Neale (SF) Prob Mon Foot - 03 / 08 / 20 5-8 10-3 + - O'Neale is battling a sore right foot, but he is likely to take the court against the Lakers on Monday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Romeo Langford (SG) out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20 2-3 4-1 + - Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
Jaylen Brown (SG) Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20 3-4 5-2 + - Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat.
Vincent Poirier (C) Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20 6-5 5-6 + - Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Robert Williams III (C) Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20 6-5 5-6 + - Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone.
Tremont Waters (PG) Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20 7-6 5-8 + - Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors.
Javonte Green (SG) Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20 9-6 6-9 + - Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat.
Jaylen Brown (SG) Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20 10-6 6-10 + - Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion.
Gordon Hayward (SF) Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20 10-7 6-11 + - Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Vincent Poirier (C) Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20 10-7 6-11 + - Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Romeo Langford (SG) Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20 11-7 6-12 + - Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.