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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics meet for Game 2 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 2nd-round series Thursday. The Celtics lead the series 1-0. Tip-off from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Cavaliers advanced past the Orlando Magic in 7 games, but Cleveland has been terrible on the road in this postseason. The Cavs lost 120-95 in the opener in Game 1 at TD Garden, and Cleveland has lost 3 of its 4 playoff games on the road by at least 23 points, including a franchise-worst 38-point loss in Game 3 of the Orlando series. It is also 0-4 against the spread (ATS) in those games, and 1-5 ATS in the past 6 playoff games.
While Cleveland was shooting just 41.1% from the field in Game 1, including a dismal 26.2% (11-of-42) from behind the arc, Boston was a solid 48.9% from the floor, and 39.1% (18-of-46) from downtown. The good news for the Cavs is that they turned it over only 5 times, but the C’s held a plus-17 rebounding margin at 55-to-38.
Boston has won 4 in a row against Cleveland at TD Garden, and it has covered the past 2. The Over (211) in Game 1 snapped a 2-game run to the Under, but the Over is 6-2 in the previous 8 meetings.
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 8:28 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Celtics -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Cavaliers +13.5 (-110) | Celtics -13.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 212.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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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 119, Cavaliers 103
Moneyline
The Celtics (-1000) will cost you a cool 10 times your potential return, which is never worth it, whether betting a heavy favorite straight up, or as part of a multi-team parlay. Including the C’s in a parlay sucks all of the value out of the ticket.
As bad as the Cavaliers (+600) have been on the road, you can’t risk $100 for every $10 won. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.
PASS.
Against the spread
The CELTICS -13.5 (-110) are laying a giant number, but the way the Cavaliers +13.5 (-110) have performed on the road in this postseason, it actually might not be high enough.
Cleveland has lost 3 of its 4 playoff games on the road by at least 23 points, and while it took great care of the basketball in Game 1, it was still trampled. The Cavs shot poorly, they were outrebounded greatly, and Cleveland struggled at the free-throw line, too.
While the Cavs had lost the 2 meetings in regular season at TD Garden by an average of just 8.0 PPG, they were waylaid in Game 1 by 25.
Over/Under
OVER 212.5 (-105) is a high number, but it’s worth a play in Game 2.
The books have bumped up the total significantly from Game 1, by 2 total buckets, but that might not be enough.
Cleveland has allowed 114.0 PPG in 4 road postseason games, including 120+ points in 2 of those outings. Cleveland’s offense has produced 97 or fewer points in 6 of 8 playoff outings so far, so that’s the risk. But the C’s had their way in Game 1, and it’s hard to believe things are going to change defensively for J.B. Bickerstaff’s crew in Game 2.
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