The Boston Celtics took care of business on the road on Friday night, taking down the Trail Blazers to win their second straight game after narrowly escaping Minnesota with a victory two days prior. On March 18, the Cs have a strong chance to run their win streak to three with a matchup against the Jazz.
Utah enters having lost five of their last seven games, but they’ve had off since last Monday following a close road loss to the Heat in Miami. While their season started off looking like one that could end up making an unlikely postseason run, the Jazz have fallen off a cliff. Utah is currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference.
Boston will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back and will be missing several key rotational pieces, but the Jazz organization has made it clear that winning this season isn’t a priority. Can the Celtics cover the spread for the second straight night out west?
Utah Jazz: 6th (ORtg), 24th (DRtg), 12th (Pace), 17th (NRtg)
Boston Celtics: 4th (ORtg), 4th (DRtg), 18th (Pace), 2nd (NRtg)
Boston Celtics Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Marcus Smart, SG – Derrick White, SF – Jaylen Brown, PF – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford
Utah Jazz Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Talen Horton-Tucker, SG – Ochai Agbaji, SF – Lauri Markkanen, PF – Kelly Olynyk, C – Walker Kessler
Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Injury Report
Celtics PG Malcolm Brogdon (right Achilles soreness) – Questionable
Celtics C Robert Williams III (hamstring) – Out
Celtics PG Payton Pritchard (heel) – Out
Jazz PG Jordan Clarkson (finger) – Questionable
Jazz PG Collin Sexton (hamstring) – Out
Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Prediction
Facing Walker Kessler without a healthy Robert Williams III is what makes this matchup so close to Las Vegas sportsbooks, and realistically, there’s a chance a well-rested Jazz gives the Celtics a run for their money in the first half, if not until the final minutes of the game.
But Boston’s mission is a banner. Utah’s is a rebuild. Lay the chalk.
Celtics 130 Jazz 125