Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Boston Celtics (21-7) host the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-21) Friday at TD Garden for a 4 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Cavaliers-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.


Cavaliers at Celtics: Key injuries

Cavaliers

  • PF Larry Nance Jr. (knee) questionable
  • SF Dylan Windler (leg) out

Celtics

  • Vincent Poirier (finger) out
  • PG Marcus Smart (eye) questionable
  • Robert Williams (hip) out

Cavaliers at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Celtics 116, Cavaliers 92

Moneyline (ML)

The Celtics (-1112) have won four straight games, including a 118-102 victory over the rival Toronto Raptors on Christmas Day. They’re 12-1 at home for the season and 8-2 across their last 10 games. The Cavaliers (+700) have strung together their first three-game winning streak of the season, topping the Atlanta Hawks 121-118 Monday. They’re just 3-11 as the road team this season and 4-6 across their last 10 games.

These odds are just too chalky to warrant a play, as a $10 bet on the Celtics to simply win outright — which they will — will return a profit of less than $1. It’s not worth even the small amount of risk involved. Go for a bigger profit margin on the spread.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The CELTICS (-14.5, +100) are a much better play when needing to win by at least 15 points. The same $10 bet would return a profit of $10, doubling your money.

Boston is 18-8 against the spread for the season and 9-3 at home. Cleveland is 12-17 ATS overall and just 5-9 on the road. The Celts won by at least 15 points in each of their last three games, while four of Cleveland’s last five losses were by margins of at least 15 points. The Celtics have beaten the Cavs by 6 and 22 points in two prior meetings this season.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the UNDER 214.5 (+105) as the better value play at plus-money. The two prior games this season played to either side of Friday’s projected total, but it was the more recent meeting which fell well short in a 110-88 win for the Celtics. The Cavs average just 104.5 points per game and will be stymied by a Celtics squad allowing just 103.2 PPG.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 116-79

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics odds, lines, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (5-17) and Boston Celtics (16-5) do battle at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Cavaliers-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Cavaliers at Celtics: Key injuries

Cavaliers: SG Dylan Windler (shin) is expected to be sidelined at least another week.

Celtics: SF Gordon Hayward (hand) is listed as questionable due to a hand injury after practicing Sunday, but he is not expected to play. SG Romeo Langford (ankle) and C Robert Williams (hip) are each listed as out.

Cavaliers at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Celtics 112, Cavaliers 91

Moneyline (ML)

The Celtics (-1250) are overwhelming favorites, and no bettor can possibly justify risking more than 12 times their investment no matter how much of a certainty a straight-up victory appears.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on a Celtics win would profit just $0.80 with an outright victory.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The CELTICS (13.5, –110) have covered the spread in four of the past five games overall, and they’re 4-1-1 ATS across the past six home contests. The Cavaliers (+13.5, -110) have managed a 1-5 ATS record in their past six trips to Boston, and they’re 1-3-1 ATS in the past five meetings overall.

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS. The total (215.5) is a risky play based upon the fact Hayward is not expected to be in the lineup, and the Cavaliers’ offensive struggles. If there is any lean, it is the Under (-110), which has connected in 12 of the past 17 meetings at TD Garden.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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