Portland at Boston

The Celtics certainly aren't playing like a content team off their Championship a year ago. In fact, they look even better. The Celtics are making the commitment on the defensive end where they own an NBA-leading mark of allowing just 90.3 ppg. When a winning team comes into the Garden the defense gets tougher, as the Cavs, Detroit, and Magic found out. Those three teams combined to average just 84.3 ppg. The Blazers will get the Celtics attention as they come in making noise in the West and are 13-3 in their last 16 games. The Blazers know a little about defense themselves as they have won six straight holding opponents to 86.3 ppg during the stretch. This one figures to be a hard-fought game with the defensive intensity of a playoff matchup, and I like this one to go UNDER the total.