The Cleveland Cavaliers (13-11) and Boston Celtics (17-5) play the 2nd end of a back-to-back set on Thursday at TD Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (NBATV). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Celtics lead 1-0
The Cavaliers suffered a 120-113 loss Tuesday in the front end of the back-to-back set in Boston, but Cleveland was able to cover as 11-point underdogs as the Over (227) cashed. G Donovan Mitchell (29 points) and G Darius Garland (26 points) accounted for 48.7% of the scoring, while hitting 22 of the team’s 44 field goals. The Cavs have dropped 2 straight, both on the road, but Cleveland is 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 outings.
The Celtics had 3 players with 21 or more points in the front end of the set Tuesday, with big dogs Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each going for 25 points. The C’s have won 5 of the past 6 games overall, although Boston is just 1-3 ATS in the past 4 outings. The Over is 4-1 in the past 5 contests, too.
Cavaliers at Celtics odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:56 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers +310 (bet $100 to win $310) | Celtics -390 (bet $390 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers +8.5 (-108) | Celtics -8.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cavaliers at Celtics key injuries
Cavaliers
Celtics
- G Jaylen Brown (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Cavaliers at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 119, Cavaliers 111
Moneyline
The Celtics (-390) will cost you nearly 4 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk, especially in the 2nd end of a back-to-back sets. We tend to see a lot of splits in back-to-backs, or at the very least, a much closer game in the 2nd end due to familiarity.
PASS.
Against the spread
The CAVALIERS +8.5 (-108) are solid play in the 2nd game of the back-to-back set. Cleveland has played just 1 back-to-back this season, a home-and-home with New York, and it won the 2nd end outright as a 5.5-point underdog on Nov. 1.
The Celtics -8.5 (-112) haven’t played a back-to-back against the same opponent this season, but it was 2-2 SU/ATS in 4 such situations last season.
Over/Under
OVER 227 (-110) is the way to go, and might be the best play on the board.
While the Under is 6-2 in the past 8 games overall for the Cavs, we saw 233 combined points in the front end Wednesday. Cleveland has gone high on the total in 7 of 12 games on the road this season, too.
The Over has cashed in 4 of the past 5 games for the C’s, too, while going for 120 or more points in each of the Overs. The defense has yielded at least 113 points in 4 consecutive outings, too.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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