Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and predictions

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The Boston Celtics (48-12) open a 5-game road trip on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers (39-21) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Celtics vs. Cavaliers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: Celtics lead 2-0; Boston has won both games played at TD Garden, with the teams going 1-1 against the spread (ATS) and the Over-Under

The Celtics hammered the visiting Golden State Warriors 140-88 on Sunday, coasting to a cover as an 8-point favorite as the Under (230) barely hung on. Boston has won 11 in a row, with each of the past 6 victories coming by 14 or more points. In fact, the average margin of victory in the team’s 11-game winning streak is 22.1 points per game (PPG), including 2 wins by 50+ points.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 107-98 loss against the New York Knicks at home on Sunday. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (knee) missed that game, and he has sat for the previous 2 outings due to a sore left knee. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection Monday for a bone bruise, and he’ll miss at least 3 more games.

Cleveland has struggled lately, going just 4-5 straight up (SU) and 1-8 ATS in the past 9 outings, while cashing the Under in 4 of the past 6 contests. The Cavs have slipped a full game behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division, and for the No. 2 seed in the East behind the Celtics.

Celtics at Cavaliers odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:07 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Celtics -320 (bet $320 to win $100) | Cavaliers +260 (bet $100 to win $260)
Against the spread: Celtics -7.5 (-110) | Cavaliers +7.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 218.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Celtics at Cavaliers key injuries

Celtics

G Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable
F Kristaps Porzingis (quadriceps) questionable

Cavaliers

G Caris LeVert (elbow) questionable
G Donovan Mitchell (knee) out
F Isaac Okoro (elbow) questionable
G Max Strus (knee) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Celtics at Cavaliers picks and predictions

Prediction

Celtics 115, Cavaliers 100

Moneyline

The Celtics (-320) will cost you more than 3 times your potential return, and that’s quite expensive for not enough reward. Risking $100 will net a profit of just $30.20, and there is no value in that. Even as part of a multi-team parlay, including Boston sucks all of the value out of your ticket.

AVOID, and look to the spread instead.

Against the spread

The CELTICS -7.5 (-110) are worth a look, but it comes with a caution label. The Cavaliers +7.5 (-110) cannot be trusted because Mitchell, their leading scorer, is sidelined, as is Strus. However, the level of which you play the Celts hinges on the health of Brown.

If Brown is able to go, this is a slam-dunk play, and you should go rather aggressively, as well as Boston has been playing. If he cannot go, the Celtics are less attractive, but still worth playing lightly.

Over/Under

UNDER 218.5 (-110) is worth a look in this battle in C-Town, especially since the Cavs will be missing Mitchell, who leads the team with 28.0 PPG, nearly 10 points more than the next leading scorer, Darius Garland (18.4 PPG).

Like the spread, however, the level of your play depends upon the status for Brown. He averages 22.5 PPG, so if he is absent for Boston, go a little more aggressively on the Under. If he is able to play, it is still worth going low on the total, but proceed a little more cautiously.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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