Trail Blazers vs Celtics Free Pick, NBA Free Pick & Predictions 1/26/25

J.A. Cavalier
Jan 26
2 min read

NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS

Blazers vs Celtics Free Pick

The Portland Trail Blazers head to TD Garden tonight for a cross-conference matchup against the Boston Celtics, and this game sets up as a difficult assignment for a Portland team dealing with significant personnel issues. Boston enters at 28–17 as a sizable home favorite, looking to take advantage of a depleted Trail Blazers rotation that has been stretched thin by injuries.

The analytical edge in this matchup clearly favors Boston’s defensive identity. The Celtics have built their success on structure, communication, and versatility, allowing them to consistently limit high-quality looks and control games without needing to push tempo. At home, that defensive discipline has been especially effective, turning TD Garden into one of the more challenging environments for visiting offenses.

Portland’s injury situation only magnifies that challenge. Missing multiple key playmakers, the Blazers are likely to struggle with shot creation and offensive flow, particularly when forced into halfcourt sets. Against a Celtics defense designed to take away first options and punish mistakes, Portland’s margin for error becomes razor-thin.

If Boston establishes its defensive presence early, this matchup has the potential to separate quickly. With home-court advantage, superior depth, and an elite defensive structure facing a short-handed opponent, the Celtics are well-positioned to dictate the pace and reinforce their status as one of the league’s most reliable home favorites.

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FREE PICK Under 225.5

This number is living off vibes, not math. Boston plays at the slowest pace in the entire NBA at 96.19, and they do it on purpose—walk it up, set the defense, and make every possession feel like jury duty. They’re top 10 in forcing halfcourt play, elite at killing transition, and that’s a nightmare for a Portland team that’s already missing its most explosive offensive pieces. This Blazers roster is short-handed, low on creators, and now they’re walking into TD Garden where Boston turns games into grinders by default. No tempo, no easy buckets, no bailout transition points. Public sees Boston and assumes scoring; sharps see pace suppression, defensive discipline, and a depleted road offense with a capped ceiling. This game’s gonna have more ball movement than points. It’s not flashy, it’s functional—and functional games cash Unders.