Cavs vs Celtics Friday Prediction | NBA Picks Today, Best Bets
John Canady
Host · Writer
On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road for a showdown atop the Eastern Conference against the Boston Celtics. Cleveland enters this game riding an eight-game winning streak, while the Celtics are looking to bounce back following an ugly loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Before the loss, the C’s were among one of the hottest teams in the league, winning six straight. Expect a dogfight in this marquee matchup as both teams look to make a statement with a win in the final game of the season series.
Cavaliers vs Celtics
- Location: TD Garden – Boston, MA
- Where to Watch: ESPN
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Celtics -2.5 | Total: 233.5
- Moneyline: Celtics -136 | Cavs +116
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
Cavaliers vs Celtics Best Bet: Celtics ML -136
The Cavaliers enter this matchup as the underdog despite looking dominant over their recent stretch of games. Kenny Atkinson’s squad has dominated nearly every team in the league this year, except for the Celtics. Boston has beaten the Cavs in two of their three matchups so far, and they look to be the one team Cleveland has trouble getting past. With the C’s looking to bounce back at home following one of their horrid performances in Detroit, expect the defending champs to come out aggressively looking to set the tone.
Cavaliers vs Celtics Best Total Bet: Over 233.5
These squads rank among the league’s top in points per game, with the Cavs sitting second with 122.9 points per matchup and the Celtics slotting in at No. 6, averaging 116.9. Each squad has the firepower to score over half of the set total on their own, and in this shootout matchup, it won’t be a shock to see these two teams easily surpass the 233.5-point set total. That said, I’ll take the odds that this game hits the over, with a final score of 125-118 being a realistic outcome.
Cavaliers Best Player Bet: Donovan Mitchell 4+ Threes Made +106
Donovan Mitchell has always risen to the challenge when facing the top teams in the league, and he seemingly always performs well against the Celtics. Mitchell has drained 4+ threes in two of his last three games, and against the Celtics this season, he’s finished with 4+ threes made in two of the three games. With Cleveland likely relying on their star guard to lead them into battle on the road in a hostile environment, it won’t be a shock to see the explosive scorer show out in this game.
Celtics Best Player Bet: Jayson Tatum 30+ Points Scored +164
Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.6 points per game heading into this matchup, and before the All-Star break, the Duke product stacked three straight 30+ games. However, the Celtics star has not scored 30 points since the season resumed. With Tatum due for a big game soon, a home matchup against the top-ranked team in the league seems like the right time. He has finished with 30+ in two of the three games against the Cavs this season.
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