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In Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics will meet the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Celtics are a huge favorite against the Cavaliers when the Celtics and the Cavaliers meet. The Celtics are favored by 16 points.
The game’s point total is set at 205.5.
Celtics vs. Cavaliers Odds
Point Spread for Celtics vs. Cavaliers
The spread for this matchup is set at 16 points, with sportsbooks listing the Celtics as the favorite.
Boston vs. Cleveland Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Boston has -1600 odds to win the game, while Cleveland is listed at +900 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 205.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
- Where: TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
- TV: TNT
Celtics vs. Cavaliers Betting Trends
The Celtics have covered the spread 42 times over 82 games with a set spread. This season, Boston has been favored 79 times and won 63, or 79.7%, of those games. This season, 43 of the Celtics’ games have gone over the point total.
The Cavaliers have put together a record of 38-42-2 against the spread this year. Cleveland has been an underdog in 29 games this season and has come away with the win 11 times (37.9%) in those contests. Cavaliers games have gone over the total 40 times this season.
Celtics vs. Cavaliers Key Players to Watch
Celtics
Jayson Tatum posts 26.9 points, 8.1 boards and 4.9 assists per contest. At the other end, he averages 1.0 steal and 0.6 blocks. Jaylen Brown’s numbers on the season are 23.0 points, 3.6 assists and 5.5 boards per game. Derrick White averages 15.2 points, 4.2 boards and 5.2 assists per contest. At the other end, he averages 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocks. Jrue Holiday is averaging 12.5 points, 4.8 assists and 5.4 boards per contest.
Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen’s averages for the season are 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists, making 63.4% of his shots from the floor (fourth in league). Donovan Mitchell adds 26.6 points per game, plus 5.1 boards and 6.1 assists. The Cavaliers receive 14.0 points per game from Caris LeVert, plus 4.1 boards and 5.1 assists. Max Strus gets the Cavaliers 12.2 points, 4.8 boards and 4.0 assists per contest, plus 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks.
What you need to know about the Celtics
When it comes to points, the Celtics are dominating both offensively and defensively, as they rank second-best in the league in points scored (120.6 per game) and fifth-best in points allowed (109.2 per contest). The Celtics are allowing 43.3 boards per game this season (14th-ranked in NBA), but they’ve shined by grabbing 46.3 rebounds per contest (second-best). The Celtics are delivering 26.9 assists per game, which ranks them 14th in the NBA in 2023-24.
Offensively Boston has performed better in home games this year, posting 123.1 points per game, compared to 118.0 per game in road games. Boston is thriving in terms of three-point shooting, as it ranks best in the league in threes (16.5 per game) and second-best in shooting percentage from beyond the arc (38.8%). Boston ranks fourth-best in the NBA by giving up a three-point shooting percentage of 35.2% to opposing teams. It ranks 14th in the league by allowing 12.9 three-pointers per contest.
The Celtics have gone 8-2 over their last 10 contests, with a 6-3-1 record against the spread during that span. Five of Boston’s last 10 outings have gone over the total. The Celtics’ offense has been much less productive over their last 10 games, scoring 110.0 points a contest compared to the 120.6 they’ve averaged this season. Boston has been locking down opponents on the defensive end of the floor recently, giving up 99.1 points per game over its last 10 outings compared to the 109.2 it has surrendered per game this year.
What you need to know about the Cavaliers
The Cavaliers put up 112.6 points per game and allow 110.2, ranking them 20th in the NBA on offense and seventh on defense. At 43.3 rebounds per game and 42.7 rebounds allowed, Cleveland is 16th and 10th in the NBA, respectively. The Cavaliers are eighth in the league in assists (28.0 per game) in 2023-24.
At home the Cavaliers are scoring 114.5 points per game, 3.7 more than they are averaging away (110.8). The Cavaliers are seventh in the league in 3-pointers made (13.5 per game) and 15th in 3-point percentage (36.7%). Defensively, Cleveland is 10th in the league in 3-pointers allowed per game at 12.5. It is 21st in 3-point percentage conceded at 37.1%.
The Cavaliers are 4-6 against the spread and 4-6 overall in their last 10 contests. Five of Cleveland’s last 10 outings have hit the over. Over its previous 10 games, Cleveland is putting up 98.2 points per contest, 14.4 fewer points than its season average (112.6). Over their past 10 games, the Cavaliers are allowing 104.8 points per game, 5.4 fewer points than their season average (110.2).
Celtics vs. Cavaliers Prediction & Pick
Our pick to win this contest is Celtics, and we expect that Cavaliers will cover the spread (Celtics -16). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 205.5 points.
How to bet Celtics vs. Cavaliers
You can bet on Boston vs. Cleveland at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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