Trail Blazers vs Celtics prediction NBA · Wednesday, December 23
At a glance
The Boston Celtics (3-1) host the Portland Trail Blazers (3-0) on Wednesday, December 23 at 7:30 PM ET at TD Garden in NBA action. The Basketlog model gives the Celtics a 72% chance to win and projects a 110-117 score (Trail Blazers – Celtics), about 227 total points. This season, the Celtics are 3-0 at home and the Trail Blazers are 2-0 on the road. Since the start of the season: 3-1 for the Celtics and 3-0 for the Trail Blazers (current streaks: Celtics W3, Trail Blazers W3). A close game (margin of 5 points or fewer) happens in only 27% of cases according to the model. Reported injuries: Chris Youngblood (Trail Blazers), Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers) and Devin Carter (Celtics). Prediction confidence: medium.
The analysis Model
Slight edge to the Celtics, but the Trail Blazers have what it takes to keep it close. The model projects Celtics 117 – 110 Trail Blazers, a margin of about 7.2 points in favor of the Celtics and a total around 227 points. Expect a game at a standard NBA pace. The Celtics will be without Devin Carter. The Trail Blazers will be without Chris Youngblood or Shaedon Sharpe. Early season: the numbers still lean heavily on last season, so confidence stays cautious.
- The Trail Blazers need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Celtics' defense allows clearly fewer points (108.3 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
PORBOS
Players to watch
Trail Blazers
Deni AvdijaF · #822.3pts / game
Ja MorantG · #16.3assists
Donovan ClinganC · #239.3reboundsCeltics
Jayson TatumF · #028.0pts / gameJayson TatumF · #08.0assistsJayson TatumF · #06.2reboundsRecent form
POR
110-98L
128-118W
124-83W128-120W
136-129BOS
125-120 OTL
121-113W
107-103W
134-99W
125-124 OT
POR
Second opinion
Our model compared with ESPN's public model (BPI). When they agree, the prediction is more solid.
✓ Both models pick the same favorite.
Team comparison
| POR | BOS | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-0 | Record | 3-1 |
| 118.2 | Points scored / game | 116.1 |
| 114.7 | Points allowed / game | 108.3 |
| +3.0 | Adjusted margin / game | +6.6 |
| W3 | Current streak | W3 |
| 3-0 | Last 10 games | 3-1 |
| 2-0 road | Home / road record | 3-0 home |
| 42-40 (-0.3) | Last season | 56-26 (+7.7) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Trail Blazers
Injury report Celtics
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data; early in the season they rely heavily on last season. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.