The Boston Celtics have had a decent start to the year and own the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve been a step behind the NBA’s best teams so far. Brad Stevens’ crew will look to prove they can hang with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, and oddsmakers opened the Cavs as 7.5-point favorites with a total of 216.5.
- The total has gone OVER in the Celtics' last five games.
- The Cavaliers are 10-2 SU in their last 12 games.
- The Celtics are 1-7 SU in their last eight games against the Cavaliers.
Boston is turning it on as the calendar prepares to flip to 2017 by winning six of its last seven games, the most recent a 113-103 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Cleveland opted to sit superstar LeBron James against the Detroit Pistons on Monday and suffered a 106-90 setback as a result, falling to 4-18 with James sidelined since he returned to Northeast Ohio in 2014. James will be back in the lineup tonight, but J.R. Smith won’t be in the fold due to a thumb injury.
The C’s have been covering machines lately, going 6-1 ATS in the last seven tilts.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Cleveland Cavaliers opened as -7.5-point favorites at online sportsbook Sportsbook, while the NBA total line was sitting around 216.5 at Sportsbook for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting on the total amount of points scored.
Odds Shark score prediction models pick a 110-109 result in favor of the Cavaliers today. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Boston Celtics will try to spoil the party on Thursday; they are 19-13 ATS against the betting spread this NBA season, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-14-1 ATS. Boston is 14-18 vs the betting total points scored; Cleveland is 15-14-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Cleveland vs Boston injuries news.
The Odds Shark betting Power Rankings have the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 4 and the Boston Celtics at No. 8 heading into this NBA contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively the game matches up Cleveland's No. 4-ranked offense (110.13 PPG) against a Boston Celtics defense that ranks No. 14 at 103.34 PPG. The Cleveland Cavaliers have averaged 45.72% from the field per game, more than the Boston Celtics have managed so far this NBA season (44.74% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Boston got 23 points from Avery Bradley en route to a 113-103 victory over Memphis on Tuesday at TD Garden.
The Cavaliers endured a 106-90 loss at the hands of the Pistons on Monday, despite a 18-point effort from Kyrie Irving at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
- Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
- Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
- Boston is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
- Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- Cleveland is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
- Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Boston home to Miami, Friday, December 30th
Cleveland at Charlotte, Saturday, December 31st
