After a drama-filled offseason, the NBA finally returns on Tuesday with what’s turned out to be the most anticipated season-Sportsbook game in quite some time when Kyrie Irving and the new-look Boston Celtics take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio.
Sportsbook opened the Cavs as 3.5-point home favorites with a total of 212.5.
- The total has gone OVER in four of the Celtics’ last five games on the road against the Cavaliers.
- The Cavaliers are 7-1 SU and ATS in their last eight games as a favorite of 3.5 or less.
- The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games on the road.
Growing tired of playing the role of Robin to LeBron’s Batman, Irving is set to receive a chilly reception in his first trip to Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the opposition. Irving helped the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals for three straight years which included a championship, but the blockbuster trade in August shook up the Association’s summer doldrums. Cleveland’s revamped roster features veteran guards Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon in addition to newcomers Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas, who’s sidelined due to hip surgery.
James missed four of Cleveland’s five preseason games but he did participate in Monday’s practice, which consisted of shooting drills and a walk-through. King James is technically listed as questionable but it’s hard to imagine him sitting out in this one, and the -3.5 line in the Cavs’ favor shows oddsmakers are well aware of that as well. If he does miss the game, however, Cleveland will be in big trouble. Over the past three campaigns when James doesn’t play, the Cavs are a brutal 4-23 SU including 11 straight losses.
Irving wasn’t the only major offseason acquisition for the Celtics, as Boston also lured all-star small forward Gordon Hayward away from Utah. Boston experienced some major roster turnover in the summer, as the starting lineup is set to consist of Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Hayward and Al Horford. The rookie Tatum receives the daunting task of guarding James in his NBA debut.
Dating back to last year’s Eastern Conference final, home-court advantage has been pretty much meaningless in this series. In the last six between the Celts and Cavs, visiting teams are 5-1 SU and 6-1 ATS.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Oddsmakers at Sportsbook opened the Cleveland Cavaliers as 5.5-point favorites in this betting matchup earlier today, while the OVER/UNDER betting line was sitting around 216.5 earlier at Sportsbook.
A 123-104 result in favor of the Cavaliers is the prediction by the OddsShark handicapping pick engine. 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 Cleveland Cavaliers sported a record of 64-36 last season, and had a corresponding betting slate of 44-51-5 ATS. The Boston Celtics were 62-38 and 52-47-1 ATS. Betting totals saw the Cavaliers post a 60-38-2 OVER/UNDER record, while the Celtics went 48-48-4 against the total number of points scored. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Cleveland vs Boston injuries news.
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams with the Cleveland Cavaliers rated this week at No. 17 and the Boston Celtics sitting at No. 11.
Statistical Matchup
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Boston Celtics ranked No. 27 in the league last season with 41.22 per game. That compares with Cleveland's No. 17 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Cleveland was the NBA's No. 2-ranked team at 13.23 per game, while the Celtics rated No. 3 with 12.14 per contest.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Cavaliers got a terrific 41-point performance from LeBron James but Golden State handed them a 129-120 defeat in the clinching game of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.
- Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
- Boston is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
- Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games on the road
- Cleveland is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Cleveland is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
- Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Next Betting Matchups
Boston home to Milwaukee, Wednesday, October 18
Cleveland at Milwaukee, Friday, October 20
