Portland Trail Blazers vs Boston Celtics Prediction: Extinguished Portland takes on bombastic Boston

NBA is in a crunch-time mode and this window has been the most immersive one considering the collapsed window towards the Playoffs. Thus, each game becomes more important than ever in the context of the Postseason. In this NBA Regular Season game, Portland Trail Blazers are going to take on the Boston Celtics.

The Trail Blazers enter the affair after losing 107:123 against the Knicks despite a 38 points outburst by Damian Lillard. Portland has now lost four in a row and 11 of their last 16 games in what has been an utter failure of a season. Once again, it is a repeat of the preceding seasons and Portland has collapsed to 38 losses and 31 wins. Portland is steadily falling out of the Play-in race and their defense has been one of the worst, allowing 120+ as a routine. Lillard is having a 30+ points season, Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons looked like a dream duo alongside him, but Portland needs much more at this point.

The Celtics come into this contest after a close 104:102 against the Timberwolves on the heels of a 35 points effort by Jaylen Brown. The Celtics have won three of their last four games, which follows a window where they lost four of their five games. Such windows have been common after Boston had the best start in the league with 21 wins and five losses. Even then, they have a 27 wins and 17 losses record which isn’t shabby either. They have acquired 48 wins and 22 losses. They are somehow still in the shot for the number one spot in the East.

• Celtics: OUT: Payton Pritchard, Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams III. QUESTIONABLE: Jayson Tatum;
• Trail Blazers: OUT: Ibou Badji, Justise Winslow. QUESTIONABLE: Jerami Grant. PROBABLE: Damian Lillard.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Damian Lillard(35+ Points)-PROB, Jaylen Brown(33+ Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jayson Tatum(9+ Rebounds)- QUES, Jusuf Nurkic(8+ Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Damian Lillard(7-10 Assists), Jaylen Brown(6-8 Assists).

The Celtics have played at a high rate whereas the Trail Blazers have been in tatters these days. It means that the scales are favoring Boston here, however, Portland has the home-court advantage. But if we inspect Trail Blazers’ recent performances at home, they haven’t been inspiring either. I see a close game with Portland winning with a scoreline of 121:118.