Celtics vs Trail Blazers Odds, Pick & Prediction 3/17/23

This game will be played at Moda Center at 10:00 PM ET on Friday, March 17, 2023.

The Boston Celtics have solidified themselves firmly in the chase for the Eastern Conference title in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers, meanwhile, still have work to do if they want to make the play-in tournament in the West. On Friday night, they will face off in Portland, in what should be a very entertaining inter-conference matchup. Here, we make our NBA betting picks for this Celtics vs Trail Blazers matchup in the Pacific Northwest.

NBA

Mar 17, 2023 10:00 PM

Boston Celtics

VS

Portland Trail Blazers

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Boston Celtics

Going into this Celtics vs Trail Blazers matchup, the Boston Celtics sit in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, just 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics got a win in their last outing, after they won on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier in the week. Here, Boston will look for another win against a Western Conference foe on the road to help their case to finish at the top of the Eastern Conference.

In this game, the defense of Marcus Smart and the rest of the Celtics guards will be tested. Damian Lillard has been on fire during the second half of the season for the Trail Blazers, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will have to lead a spirited defensive effort in this contest to slow him down.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have lost four games in a row coming into Friday night against the Boston Celtics. They were up by double digits in the first half of their last game against the New York Knicks, but they fell apart in the second half. The Blazers sit in 13th place in the Western Conference, and need to start winning games in a hurry to make up ground and get into the play-in tournament.

For this game, the Blazers’ top key is their defense. They have given up 115 or more points in four straight games, and 120 points or more in three straight. If they cannot do more defensively here, their playoff hopes could take another blow at home.