Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Preview
The Celtics and Cavaliers are set to tip-off at 7:00 PM ET for game four of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup. Heading into Monday’s game, the Celtics lead the series 2-1. The over/under line is sitting at 206 points, and the Celtics are favored by 8.5 points on the road. The money line odds are -358 for the Celtics and +282 for the Cavaliers. You can catch the game on TNT.
Check out BetCoco for Cleveland Cavaliers – Boston Celtics odds
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Head-to-Head and Key Stats
In the last three head-to-head matchups, the Celtics are averaging 106 points per game, compared to the Cavaliers at 102. These figures have led to Boston posting a record of 2-1.
- When looking at their past five road matchups, Boston has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 104 per game. The team went 4-1 overall in these games.
- Through their last three home games, Cleveland has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 1-2 while averaging 103 points per game.
- Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Cavaliers have a straight up record of 1-4. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-4.
- As the betting favorite, the Celtics have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 2-1.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Prediction
The Celtics picked up a 106-93 win over the Cavaliers in the most recent game of this series. Boston covered the spread as 7.5-point favorites, and the game fell 12 points short of the over/under line of 211 points. The Celtics had a strong defensive performance, holding the Cavaliers to just 42.9% shooting from the field.
Boston was led by Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who scored 28 points, were the top two scorers in the game. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points, and he made seven threes on 58.3% shooting from beyond the arc.
Today, the Celtics are favored by 8.5 points against the Cavaliers. This season, Boston has been favored in 86 of their 82 games, going 68-18 as the favorite. As the favorite, they have an average scoring margin of +12 points per game.
On the road, the Celtics have an average scoring differential of +8.0 points per game. They have covered the spread in three straight road games and have an ATS record of 22-20 on the road.
The Celtics’ O/U record for the season is 46-43-1, and the under has hit in their last two games. This season, their games have averaged a combined scoring total of 227.4 points per game.
In their most recent game, the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers by a score of 106-93. Boston covered the spread as 7.5-point favorites, and the game finished with a combined scoring total of 199 points.
Boston is currently in 1st place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 64-18. Against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 41-11 and 23-7 in non-conference games.
Boston comes into the game as the NBA’s second-ranked scoring team, at 120.6 points per contest. Despite their high-scoring average, the Celtics have scored below the league average in 34.1% of their games this season. Looking at their pace, the Celtics are 23rd in the league, averaging 97.2 possessions per game. The Celtics lead the league in three-point attempts per game, at 42.5 attempts per contest, and they are also the league leaders in three-point makes, at 16.5 made threes per game.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 24.2 points per game over his last five games, while hitting 56.2% of his shots from the field. Jayson Tatum is averaging 22.4 points per game in his last five games and 26.9 points per game for the season. In his last five games, Derrick White has hit 4.8 threes per game on a shooting percentage of 45.3%.
Heading into their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics are once again one of the best defensive teams in the league, allowing just 108.0 points per game, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. In their last five games, they have been even stingier, giving up just 95.6 points per contest.
One of the keys to their success has been their ability to limit opponents’ free throw attempts. On the season, they are giving up just 16.9 made free throws per game, which is tops in the league. Over their last five games, that number has dropped to just 9.6 made free throws per contest.
From a rebounding standpoint, Boston is one of the best in the league, ranking 2nd overall in rebounding at 46.3 boards per game. Defensively, they are 1st in defensive rebounds per game at 35.1.
The Cavaliers are currently 8.5-point underdogs at home against the Celtics. This season, they have gone 12-23 as the underdog and have a scoring differential of -6.7 points per game in those games.
Cleveland’s O/U record for the season is 45-46-1, and the under has hit in their last two games. Today’s line of 206 is lower than their season average of 220.7.
In their most recent game, the Cavaliers lost to the Celtics by a score of 106-93. They were 7.5-point underdogs in that game. The combined scoring total was 199, and the O/U line was 211.
In the Eastern Conference standings, the Cavaliers are currently in 4th place with a record of 48-34. Against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 31-21 compared to 17-13 in non-conference play.
This season, the Cavaliers have an ATS record of 42-48, going 22-24 ATS at home and 20-24 ATS on the road. As the underdog, their ATS record is 15-19 compared to 27-29 as the favorite.
This season, the Cavaliers are 19th in the league in scoring at home, at 112.8 points per contest. Overall, they are 23rd in the league, with an average of 112.6 points per game. Cleveland’s pace of 97 possessions per game is 24th in the league. The Cavaliers are 10th in made threes per game, at 13.5, but their three-point shooting percentage of 36% is just 19th in the NBA.
Donovan Mitchell has been carrying the Cavaliers offense of late, averaging 36.8 points per game in his last five games. This has come while hitting 51.9% of his shots from the field. Over this stretch, he has hit 44.7% of his threes. Darius Garland is averaging 15.2 points and 4.8 assists in his last five games, but he has hit just 33.3% of his threes in that stretch. Evan Mobley is averaging 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds in his last five games.
So far this season, the Cavaliers have been one of the top defensive units in the NBA, ranking 7th in points allowed per game at 109.3. Over their last five games, the Cavs have been even better, giving up just 103.4 points per contest.
One area where Cleveland has been strong defensively is inside the arc, as they come into tonight’s game ranked 4th in two-point shooting percentage allowed at 52.4%. Overall, opposing teams have shot 46.2% from the field against the Cavs, which is the 4th best mark in the league.
When it comes to defending the three-point line, Cleveland has been solid, ranking 10th in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 36.5%. On the season, opponents are making an average of 12.4 threes per game against the Cavs.
Based on our projections, we have the Celtics coming out on top by a score of 115-105.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips
- Take the Celtics on the moneyline
- The Celtics should also cover at -8.5
- Projecting a combined 220 points, we like the over
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report
- Jarrett Allen – Rib – Questionable
- Donovan Mitchell – Calf – Questionable
- Ty Jerome – Ankle – Out
- Craig Porter Jr. – Ankle – Out
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Kristaps Porzingis – Calf – Out
- Luke Kornet – Calf – Probable
