The Boston Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference second round series with a 1-0 lead. The top-rated sportsbooks have already released NBA odds.
For your best bet in this matchup, I will recommend investing in Boston. And, if you want extra NBA coverage, check out our YouTube channel!
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NBA Pick: Celtics -13.5 (-115) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Thursday, May 09, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at TD Garden
Boston’s Dominance
Since their Game 2 loss against Miami, the Celtics have won their last four games by 20, 14, 24, and 25 points, respectively.
Their key has been to clamp down on the perimeter and then to take advantage of their opponent’s lack of inside scoring.
Cleveland’s Three-Point Shooting
Cleveland has the sixth-worst road three-point shooting percentage in the NBA.
We saw evidence of this in Game 1 against Boston. Indeed, we’ve seen this throughout the playoffs.
In four road games now, Cleveland has yet to sniff a 30-percent three-point conversion rate.
Boston’s devotion to clamping down on the perimeter, with the help of its two All-NBA Defensive Team guards, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White will prolong Cleveland’s three-point shooting woes.
In Game 1, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley scored effectively inside, and yet the Cavaliers still only managed 95 points.
Road Trends
A big part of why Cleveland is 0-4 ATS on the road this postseason is that it has yet to exceed 96 points in a given game.
The Cavaliers’ role players have been nonexistent away from home, as is often the case for role players, and the team’s two key guards have to deal with Boston’s lockdown perimeter defenders.
Another road trend suggests further reasons for Cleveland’s Game 1 debacle.
Under its head coach, Cleveland is 0-6 ATS on the road. The adjustments, game-planning, and creativity in general are not so apparent from Cleveland’s coaching staff in its road games.
Boston is locked-in as a team and will do everything to outperform the Cavaliers again by a significant margin.
The Pick
Boston dominated Game 1, with a 120-point output from its offense, without its main star Jayson Tatum making a three.
The Celtics did not shoot so amazingly from deep in Game 1, so they can improve upon their output, especially with a stronger game from Tatum.
NBA Pick: Celtics -13.5 (-115) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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