Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
Game two of this Eastern Conference first-round series between the Cavaliers and Celtics is set to tip off at 7:00 PM ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are favored by 13.5 points and lead the series 1-0. The over/under line is 212 points, and the money line odds are +641 for the Cavaliers and -987 for the Celtics. ESPN is carrying the game on TV.
Check out BetCoco for Boston Celtics – Cleveland Cavaliers odds
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The last ten head-to-head matchups between then Celtics and Cavaliers have gone in favor of the Celtics, putting together a record of 6-4. When looking back over the last ten head to head meetings between the Cavaliers and Celtics, the Cavaliers hold the edge with an ATS record of 5-4-1.
- When looking at their past ten road matchups, Cleveland has an ATS record of 2-8 while averaging 102 per game. The team went 1-9 overall in these games.
- Boston has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 99 points per game while allowing 92. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Cavaliers have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-5.
- As the betting favorite, the Celtics have an ATS record of 4-1 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 4-1.
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
Behind a dominant 3rd quarter, the Celtics easily won the most recent game of this series, 120-95. Heading into the 4th quarter, the Celtics were up 92-77. Boston was favored by 12.5 points and covered the spread. The over/under line going into the game was 211, and the teams surpassed that with 215 combined points.
Donovan Mitchell’s 33 points led all scorers, but the Celtics held the Cavaliers to just 41.1% shooting from the field. Jaylen Brown’s 32 points led the Celtics, and he was 4-6 from three. Boston made 18 threes as a team, and Derrick White added 25 points for the Celtics.
As the underdog, the Cavaliers have gone 11-22 this season and are 14-18 ATS as the underdog. The team has been the underdog in 33 of their 82 games and have lost 10 straight games as the underdog.
On the road, Cleveland is 19-24 ATS and has an average scoring differential of -1.3 points per game. Their O/U record on the road is 22-23.
This season, the Cavaliers have an O/U record of 45-44-1, and the over has hit in their last two games. Today’s O/U line is set at 212 points, and their games have averaged 220.7 points per game.
In their last game against the Celtics, the Cavaliers lost by a score of 120-95. They were 12.5-point underdogs in that game and are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 48-34.
Cleveland’s ATS record for the season is 41-47, and they have failed to cover the spread in their last four road games. In their last game vs. the Celtics, the Cavaliers were 12.5-point underdogs and lost by 25 points.
This season, the Cavaliers are averaging 112.6 points per game, which is 23rd in the league. They have been slightly better on the road at 109 points per game compared to 113.3 at home. Cleveland’s pace of play is 24th in the league, with an average of 97 possessions per contest.
Donovan Mitchell is averaging 26.6 points per game this season and 33.6 over his last five games. In these games, he shot 47.2% from the field. Caris LeVert is averaging 14 points per game for the season but has hit just 32.5% of his threes. Darius Garland is averaging 18 points per game on a three-point shooting percentage of 37.1%, while Evan Mobley is averaging 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds.
So far this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers defense has been one of the top units in the league, ranking 7th in points allowed per game at 109.6. Over their last five games, they have been even better, giving up just 106.4 points per game, which is 9th best in the NBA over that span.
One area where the Cavs have been particularly strong is in their ability to defend inside the arc. On the season, they are 4th in two-point shooting percentage allowed at 52.3%. Over their last five games, they have been even better, ranking 10th in two-point shooting percentage allowed.
When it comes to defending the three-point line, Cleveland is 10th in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 36.6%. On the season, opponents have made fewer threes than their season average in 63.4% of their games vs. the Cavs.
Today, the Celtics are heavily favored (-13.5) against the Cavaliers. This season, Boston has been favored in 84 of their 82 games and has gone 67-17 as the favorite. In their last four games, the Celtics have covered the spread and have an ATS record of 46-38.
Looking at their O/U record, the Celtics are 46-41-1 for the season. In their last two games, the final score has gone over the posted total of 212 points. This season, their games have averaged 227.9 points.
In their most recent game, the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers by a score of 120-95. They were favored by 12.5 points going into the game. This win improved their overall record to 64-18, which is the best in the Eastern Conference.
Against the spread, the Celtics are 25-18 at home and 21-20 on the road. Currently, they have won two straight games against the spread at home and have an average scoring differential of +15.4 points per game. On the road, their ATS scoring differential is +7.9.
Overall, the Celtics have won four straight games and are 8-2 in their last 10. In the Eastern Conference, they have a 41-11 record and have clinched the top seed. Today’s game will be the Celtics’ final game of the regular season.
This season, the Celtics are averaging 120.6 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the league. At home, they are averaging 122.3 points per contest. Boston is also the league leader in three-point attempts and three-pointers made, averaging 42.5 attempts and 16.5 made threes per game.
Looking at Jaylen Brown’s last five games, he has hit 55.1% of his shots from the field and is averaging 25.8 points per game. Over this stretch, Jayson Tatum is averaging 10.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists but has hit just 28.6% of his threes. Derrick White is averaging 23.4 points per game in his last five games while hitting 50% of his threes.
Coming into the season, the Boston Celtics were expected to have one of the best defenses in the NBA, and they did not disappoint. They finished the regular season ranked 3rd in points allowed per game at 108.1. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, they were 2nd at 45.2%.
One area where the Celtics were particularly tough was in defending the paint. They finished the year ranked 2nd in blocked shots at 6.6 per game. Overall, they were 2nd in defensive rebounds and 1st in made free throws allowed.
Over their last five games, the Celtics have been even better on the defensive end. During that stretch, they have allowed just 92.4 points per game. Their field goal percentage allowed during that stretch is 42.8% and their three-point percentage allowed is 29.9%.
With a 13.5-point advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Celtics to secure a 116-104 victory.
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Tips
- Take the Celtics on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Cavaliers (+13.5)
- Projecting a combined 220 points, we like the over
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Kristaps Porzingis – Calf – Out
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report
- Jarrett Allen – Rib – Questionable
- Ty Jerome – Ankle – Out
- Dean Wade – Knee – Out
- Craig Porter Jr. – Ankle – Out
