Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Matchup

Read our Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction for this NBA regular season game in Cleveland. Check out who we like to win and cover the spread in this NBA matchup.

  • The Celtics possess a 16-3 record so far.
  • Defensively, Boston are giving up 110.6 points per game.
  • The Celtics are coming off a 138-129 win vs. the Cavaliers.
  • The Cavaliers take on Boston at 17-3.
  • Cleveland has an effective field goal percentage of 59% (1st).
  • The Cavaliers are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Celtics.

Celtics vs Cavaliers Prediction

At 6:00 ET, the 2nd ranked Boston Celtics (-122) will take on the 1st ranked Cleveland Cavaliers (+102) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics (-1.5) come into this game on a 7 game win streak and have a record of 16-3. The Cavaliers (+1.5) have lost 2 straight and are 17-3 on the season.

This game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland and can be seen on NBCS. The over/under line for this game is 235.5.

Celtics vs. Cavaliers Matchup At A Glance

  • Sport: NBA
  • Teams: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Where: Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
  • Date: Sunday, December 1st
  • Betting Odds BOS -1.5, BOS -122 | CLE +102 O/U 235.5

Celtics Preview: Will the Boston Defense Show Up on the Road?

Boston improved to 16-3 this season with a 138-129 win over the Bulls on Friday. The Celtics were favored by 11.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 267, well over the 244.5-point line.

Boston jumped out to a 39-30 lead after the 1st quarter, but the Bulls went on a 10-0 run, closing the gap to 39-38. Chicago outscored Boston 37-28 in the 2nd quarter, and the teams were tied at 96 heading into the 4th. The Celtics pulled away in the final quarter, outscoring the Bulls 42-33.

The Celtics connected on 23 three-pointers at a 42.6% clip in their win over the Bulls, finishing with a 50% overall shooting percentage. Jayson Tatum led the way with 35 points and 14 rebounds, hitting 4 threes at 50% efficiency.

Payton Pritchard was a standout from beyond the arc, knocking down 7 threes at 63.6% and finishing with 29 points, 19 of which came in the 4th quarter. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porziņģis each contributed 21 points, with Brown also hitting 4 threes.

The Celtics gave up 129 points to the Bulls on Friday, allowing 30 points in the 1st quarter and 37 in the 2nd. They tightened up in the 3rd, giving up 29 points, but allowed 33 in the 4th. Boston's defense allowed Chicago to shoot 51% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Bulls hit 20 threes at a 39% clip. The Celtics sent Chicago to the line 16 times, where they made 13 free throws. Boston grabbed 40 defensive rebounds, giving up 5 offensive boards, and recorded 6 steals.

Cavaliers Preview: Is an Upset Waiting to Happen at Home?

Boston improved to 16-3 on the season with a 138-129 win over the Bulls on Friday. The Celtics were favored by -11.5 points going into the game but didn’t cover the spread. The total score of 267 points exceeded the O/U line of 244.5 by 22.5 points.

After a strong start, leading 39-30 after the 1st quarter, Boston saw their lead shrink as the Bulls went on a 10-0 run. The teams were tied at 96 heading into the 4th quarter, but the Celtics pulled away by outscoring the Bulls 42-33 in the final period.

In their 117-101 loss to the Hawks, the Cavaliers shot just 40.9% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting 28.9% of their threes, with only 11 makes. Darius Garland led the way with 29 points and 5 made threes at 62.5%, adding 8 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters.

Evan Mobley contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 58.8% from the field. Donovan Mitchell had a tough night, shooting 21.7% overall and 20% from three, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Cavaliers had a strong defensive effort in the 2nd quarter, giving up just 23 points, but a 39-point 3rd quarter from the Hawks proved costly in their 117-101 loss. Cleveland allowed Atlanta to shoot 51% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Hawks hit 14 threes on 41% shooting. The Cavaliers sent Atlanta to the line 18 times, where they made 15 free throws. Cleveland finished with 9 steals but didn’t record any blocks.

Celtics vs Cavaliers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

  • Across their last five road contests, Boston has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 5-0, while averaging 124 points per game.
  • Across their ten previous home games, Cleveland has an ATS mark of 7-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 7-3 while averaging 117 points per game.
  • In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Cavaliers have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 3-0 in these scenarios.
  • Although the Celtics have a strong straight up record in their last three games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 1-2.

Celtics vs Cavaliers Prediction

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