NBA Expert Picks & Preview: Cavaliers-Celtics, Mavericks-Thunder Game 5

NBA Playoffs 2024 Expert Picks & Preview: Cavaliers-Celtics, Mavericks-Thunder Game 5

Our NBA experts Christopher Walder, Nick Holz, and David Caraviello are here throughout the playoffs offering up their spread, moneyline, OVER/UNDER, and player prop picks for all of the action. 

The Cavs-Celtics series returns to TD Garden with Boston looking to book their almost inevitable ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. While the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder are locked in a tight battle that looks destined for a seventh game.

Jump into all our NBA Expert Picks of the evening below.

(Related Link) 2024 NBA Playoff Series Prices

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NBA Expert Picks Results: Second Round

ExpertRecordUnits
David Caraviello8-9-0.73
Nick Holz8-9-0.83
Christopher Walder6-12-1-5.61

Jump To Picks

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Game 5 Preview & Picks

Matchup Page: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. ET

Same-Game Parlay: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Game 5

TeamSpreadMoneyTotal
Cleveland Cavaliers+16 (-112)+980O 205.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics-16 (-108)-1800U 205.5 (-110)

Nick Holz's Pick: Payton Pritchard 2+ Made Threes  (-110)

Payton Pritchard has taken on a sizable role for the Boston Celtics in this series.

The fourth-year Oregon man is averaging 23 minutes a night, while knocking down 45% of his three-point attempts. He nailed three treys the other night in Cleveland and has launched at least four attempts in seven straight games. He's also knocked down at least two three-pointers in every game against Cleveland thus far.

I love the value on Pritchard to knock down at least two long bombs on Wednesday night. If this game gets ugly early (books have this as a 16-point spread for a reason) he could end up playing 30+ minutes as the Celtics turn the bench. Bet on Pritchard to have a big night in Game 5.

Christopher Walder's Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers aTS +16 (-112)

A 16-point spread is the largest of the postseason in favor of Boston, but its record under such circumstances isn't so hot. The Celtics went 1-4-1 during the 2023-24 regular season when entering a matchup as favorites by at least that amount.

Boston has only covered with a 2-2 record ATS in this series with Cleveland in Games 2 and 4 as favorites of 13.5 points and 11.5 points, respectively. Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and Donovan Mitchell are all listed as questionable which explains the disparity, but with the Celtics tending to play worse on their home floor as of late, and with the Cavaliers having nothing to lose in an elimination game, I see Game 5 replicating Game 4 with a more valiant effort to keep the score close despite the discrepancy in talent.

David Caraviello's Pick: Boston Celtics -16 ATS (-108)

Boston after its Game 2 stumble handled the Cavaliers rather easily on the road, and now returns home with an opportunity to clinch this East semifinal series at home. It was bad enough for Cleveland that big man Jarrett Allen was limited with a rib injury--but now, without star Donovan Mitchell, who missed Game 4 and is questionable for Wednesday night with a calf strain?

That seems far too much to ask, making the Celtics the natural play to win, cover, and advance in TD Garden. 

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Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 Preview & Picks

Matchup Page: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. ET

Same-Game Parlay: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5

TeamSpreadMoneyTotal
Dallas Mavericks+4.5 (-110)+150O 213 (-108)
Oklahoma City Thunder-4.5 (-110)-178U 213 (-112)

Nick Holz's Pick:  Kyrie Irving OVER 26.5 Points & assists (-120)

Much like the rest of the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving had a bad shooting night in Game 4. He dished the rock to great aplomb though, racking up nine assists.

Don't let his nine point Game 4 make you forget, Irving is one of the greatest playoff performers in NBA history. He's averaged nearly 28 points and assists this postseason while shooting nearly 50% from the field, and 42.9% from three.

Luka Doncic is clearly hobbled, so Kyrie needs to step up and perform for the Mavericks to have any hope in this series. Jason Kidd knows that, the Thunder know that, heck, the whole of Dallas gets it. Look for greatest finisher at the rim in NBA history to bounce back with a classic Kyrie playoff performance in Game 5.

Christopher Walder's Pick: Dallas Mavericks ML (+150)

This pick didn't steer me wrong in Game 2, and considering the Mavericks have either won close or come close to winning each time versus Oklahoma City with the exception of the opener, there's a strong possibility another road victory is in store here. 

For what it's worth, Dallas hasn't dropped consecutive games this entire postseason, with its first three losses followed up by a win away from the American Airlines Center. This team knows how to bounce back, and that they will at the Paycom Center on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead back to the Lone Star State.

David Caraviello's Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder ATS -4.5 (-110)

Dallas blew an 11-point halftime lead with an opportunity to put a 3-1 hammerlock on this series at home, and instead we’re heading back to OKC for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have simply been wildly inconsistent for the Mavs, and it’s tough to ask P.J. Washington to pick up the slack every night.

The Thunder are deeper and better defensively, and their trend in these playoffs has been that if they win, they also cover.

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