After having 10 days off, the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t show any signs of rust in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals series with the Boston Celtics by running the C’s out of the gym to the tune of a 117-104 score. Cleveland will look to take a 2-0 series lead back to Northeast Ohio in Game 2 on Friday. Sportsbooks opened the Celtics as 5.5-point home underdogs with a total of 219.5.
- The Cavaliers are 10-2 SU in their last 12 games against the Celtics.
- The total has gone UNDER in six of the Cavaliers' last seven games on the road against the Celtics.
- The Celtics are 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS in their last six games in the playoffs as underdog.
The second-seeded Cavs are 9-0 SU in the postseason and continue to ride LeBron James while he plays arguably the best basketball of his career. James collected 38 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Game 1 and is averaging 34.8 points, nine boards and 7.1 assists in the playoffs. Bron Bron has scored 30 or more points in each of the last seven games.
Isaiah Thomas played the role of hero for the majority of the playoffs until this point, but the diminutive point guard has hit a wall of late. Thomas tallied just 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting in the opener, marking the fourth time in the past six games he’s scored fewer than 20 points.
This is starting to look like Groundhog Day for the wine and gold. With a win tonight, the Cavs can match last year’s mark of winning their first 10 postseason games.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Odds makers at Sportsbook opened the Boston Celtics as 5-point underdogs in this betting matchup earlier today, while the OVER/UNDER betting line was sitting around 220 earlier at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 118-102 win for the Cavaliers on Friday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Boston Celtics sport a record of 61-35 and 50-45-1 ATS heading into this matchup, while the Cleveland Cavaliers sit at 60-31 and 41-46-4 ATS on the NBA season. The OVER/UNDER totals betting records are 46-46-4 for the Boston Celtics and 54-35-2 for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Boston vs Cleveland injuries news.
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams with the Boston Celtics rated this week at No. 11 and the Cleveland Cavaliers sitting at No. 17.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively the game matches up Boston's No. 6-ranked offense (107.84 PPG) against a Cleveland Cavaliers defense that ranks No. 20 at 106.92 PPG. The Boston Celtics have averaged 45.58% from the field per game, less than the Cleveland Cavaliers have managed so far this NBA season (47.21% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
LeBron James poured in 38 points for Cleveland on Wednesday, as they defeated Boston 117-104 at TD Garden.
- Cleveland is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games
- Cleveland is 4-0-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Boston is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games
- Boston is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
- Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Next Betting Matchups
Cleveland home to Boston, Sunday, May 21st
