Trail Blazers @ Celtics: Preview, injury report, and betting guide (1/21/22)

The Portland Trail Blazers continue on their extended road trip, taking on the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden tonight, Friday, January 21, 2022, at 4:30 PM Pacific Time. Portland has surprised a lot of people on this gauntlet of a journey, tallying a 2-2 record despite going to war without three starters in Damian Lillard, Norman Powell, and Larry Nance Jr.

The Trail Blazers will have to gear up against the Celtics shorthanded again, as all three of the aforementioned players have been ruled out for tonight’s contest along with Cody Zeller. Nassir Little is questionable after exiting Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat with a minor knee injury.

Boston will mostly be at full strength with no major entries on the injury report, aside from questionable tags for Marcus Smart and Aaron Nesmith. The first clash between these two squads resulted in a Boston beatdown of the Trail Blazers, 147-117. Portland will be without Powell, Nance, and Zeller this time around, but will have x-factor Anfernee Simons (23.5 points and nine assists per game on current road-trip) in the lineup.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Boston Celtics preview and betting guide

The Boston Celtics struggled heavily in the early season, causing rumors to bubble up that the time to split Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was fast approaching. Through their turmoil, rookie Head Coach Ime Udoka had resulted to publicly questioning his team’s effort and mental fortitude multiple times through the season. Alas, it seems his shaming has started to work.

The Celts are 5-2 through their last seven contests, having notched an impressive win over the Chicago Bulls and handling business against some of the Eastern Conference’s cannon fodder.

Boston was one of the first teams to get involved in the trade channels, landing Bol Bol and PJ Dozier from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team swap that also included the San Antonio Spurs. Both new additions will be sidelined with existing injuries, but the Celtics will have plenty of firepower available for this one.

Spread: Boston Celtics -8, -360 moneyline

WynnBet has the Celtics favored by eight points at home. With all of the Trail Blazers’ early struggles — especially on the road — in combination with their extensive injury report, this line makes sense.

Both teams seem to be trending up, but the Celtics have the advantage in terms of star power with the two Jays available — that is unless Anfernee Simons can continue his torrid ascension.

CJ McCollum has played well since returning from his collapsed lung injury — 40 points in his last two outings on 51 percent from the field and 46 from deep — so he and Simons may be able to balance the scales.

Boston certainly hasn’t been the most consistent team and has a tendency to play down to their opponents. The Portland Trail Blazers should have enough in the tank to at least keep this interesting.

Verdict: Portland Trail Blazers +8

Over/under 212.5

Considering that the last time these two teams faced off the resulting score was over 250 points, I’ll have to go with the over in this one.

Boston’s two wings are defensive aces, but their backline is weak. Jusuf Nurkic should be able to get himself going and establish an inside-out attack for the Trail Blazers in this one.

It’s almost always a safe bet to go with the over in a Trail Blazers game.

Verdict: Over 212.5