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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics meet for Game 1 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 2nd-round series Tuesday. Tip-off from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Cavaliers had their issues with the Orlando Magic in the 1st-round series, winning in 7 games. The home team was a perfect 7-0 straight up (SU), while Cleveland ended up going just 3-4 against the spread (ATS), including 0-3 SU/ATS on the road in the series. The Over/Under alternated in the past 6 games.
The Celtics made quick work of the Miami Heat in their 1st-round series, winning in 5 games. While Boston let up in Game 2, falling 111-101, that was its only loss and non-cover of the series. The other 4 games were not only victories but wins by 14 or more points with 3 of the wins coming by 20 or more points. The Over went 2-1 in 3 home games for the C’s.
These teams met 3 times in the regular season, twice in Boston and once in Cleveland. The home team went 3-0 SU, while the Cavs went 2-1 ATS. The Under cashed in the past 2 meetings, including a 105-104 win by the Cavs as 8.5-point underdogs March 5 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Cavaliers at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers +425 (bet $100 to win $425) | Celtics -600 (bet $600 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Cavaliers +11.5 (-110) | Celtics -11.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 208.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cavaliers at Celtics key injuries
Cavaliers
- C Jarrett Allen (ribs) questionable
Celtics
- F Kristaps Porzingis (calf) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Cavaliers at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 113, Cavaliers 105
Moneyline
The Celtics (-600) will cost 6 times your potential return. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough value.
In addition, Boston last played May 1, so it’s almost been an entire week of rest. On the flip side, the Cavaliers (+425) just played Sunday in a Game 7 against Orlando. While they might be a little on the tired side, they do have momentum, and won’t have as much rust.
Cleveland played Boston tough all season, too. The Cavs have been a disaster on the road in the playoffs so far, though, and that’s against a mediocre Magic team.
PASS.
Against the spread
The CAVALIERS +11.5 (-110) are the play as a double-digit spread is an awfully big number.
While Cleveland lost by a franchise-worst 38 points in Game 3 in Orlando, and by 23 points in Game 4, it fell by just 7 in Game 6, playing a lot better as the series went on.
The Cavs played the Celtics tough all season, losing by an average of 8.0 points per game (PPG) in 2 meetings at TD Garden this season.
Over/Under
OVER 208.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board for Game 1.
While the Under has cashed in the past 2 games in this series, the Over is 5-2 in the past 7 meetings. We had 3 OT games during that 7-game span, too, as the Cavs have been a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
Boston is likely to win the series opener, and it will likely take the series in rather short order, too, but Cleveland won’t make it easy.
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