| Game Time | 6:00 pm EST |
| Boston Celtics Line | -1.5 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers Line | +1.5 |
| Total | 236.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
In this high caliber duel between the two best teams of the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hosting the Boston Celtics. The Celtics handled the Cavs their first loss of the season, and now the Cavs are coming off back-to-back shocking losses against the Hawks, both at home and on the road. This is their first losing streak of the season and are looking to bounce back. On the other hand, the Celtics are coming in red-hot, having lost only once in their last 10 games.
Below is a detailed analysis for Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers game.
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report: Caris LeVert, Dean Wade are day-to-day, Emoni Bates and Max Strus are out
Boston Celtics Injury Report: Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis are day-to-day
Cleveland Cavaliers Recent Form and Trends
The Cavaliers have a 17-3 record this season and are sitting on the first place of the East. They are 14-6 against the spread and 13-7 in over/under. Cleveland has a 10-1 home record, but 8-3 against the spread with a +12.4-point differential. The Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back losses but are 5-2 against the spread in their last 7 games. Over is 6-2 in their last 8 games.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 101-117 loss in Atlanta, as they shot with just 41% from the field, while the Hawks shot with 52%. Donovan Mitchell had his worst game of the season with just 12 points on 5-23 shooting from the field. Darius Garland led Cleveland’s offense with 29 points with 5 triples and 5 assists.
Mitchell leads the Cavaliers in scoring with 24.1 points, adding 4.7 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Darius Garland adds 20.7 points and a team-high 6.8 assists per game.
Boston Celtics Recent Form and Trends
The Celtics have a 16-3 record this season and are sitting on the second place of the East. Boston is 8-11 against the spread and 10-8-1 in over/under. The Celtics have a 9-1 road record but just 5-5 against the spread, with a +13-point differential. Boston is 9-1 in their last 10 games, but 3-8 against the spread in their last 11. Over is 6-2 in their last 8 games.
Boston is coming off a 138-129 win in Chicago, as they shot with 50% from the field and made 23 triples. All of their starters scored double digits, led by Jason Tatum with 35 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Tatum leads Boston in scoring this season, with an average of 28.7 points, adding 8.5 rebounds and a team-high 5.8 assists. Jaylen Brown adds 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Cavaliers lead the league with 122.3 points per game. The Cavs boast the best percentages both in field goals, with 51.1%, and in 3-pointers, with 40.2%. Defensively, they rank 15th in the NBA, allowing 112.5 points per game.
Offensively, the Celtics are second-best in the NBA with 121.2 points per game. They shoot 46.4% from the field (14th) and 37.8% from beyond the arc (8th). Defensively, they allow 110.6 points per game, which is 9th in the league.
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Celtics won 120-117 at home, but they did not cover the spread and the game went over the 234 points. The Celtics are 4-0 in their last 4 meetings against the Cavs, but the Cavaliers are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5. Over is 3-0 in their last 3 meetings.
Prediction
In this Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, the Celtics are coming as -1.5 road favorites. I cannot trust the Cavs after back-to-back losses to the Hawks, but they have been superb at home. I also cannot take the Celtics to get another win against the best team in the league, especially on the road. Both teams have the best offenses in the NBA, scoring 243.5 points combined, and the Cavs have the best percentages in the league. Their previous meeting this season went over the total with 237 total points, and both teams are 12-4 to the over combined in their last 16 games. I expect another high scoring game, so take the over.
Nick’s Pick: Over 236.5