Celtics cruise past Cavs, return to Eastern Conference Finals

When: Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 PM ET
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
Where: TD Garden in Boston, MA
What: NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Playoffs game 5

The Boston Celtics faced some challenges at TD Garden, notably when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated them in Game 2.

However, the Celtics turned things around by securing victories in both games in Cleveland, establishing a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

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Game Preview (Spread)

The Celtics must overcome their home struggles to solidify their championship aspirations, and Game 5 is an important opportunity to do so.

Let's dive into our NBA odds series with a prediction and pick for the Cavaliers-Celtics matchup.

Spread
Cleveland Cavaliers +15.5 points	-110	-110	-105
Boston Celtics -15.5 points	-110	-110	-115

The Cavaliers narrowly edged past the Magic in the first round, understanding the difficulty they would face against the Celtics.

Despite the Cavaliers managing a one-point win at home in their last regular-season matchup, the Celtics prevailed in two out of three meetings.

Cavs release loaded injury report for do-or-die Game 5 vs. Celtics: https://t.co/EIWt6a55pd

— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) May 15, 2024

However, the Cavaliers now grapple with injury setbacks, with Jarrett Allen sidelined indefinitely due to a rib injury and Donovan Mitchell absent in Game 4 due to a calf ailment.

While Allen is unlikely to return, Mitchell's status for Game 5 remains uncertain, potentially signaling a challenging road ahead for Cleveland.

The spread reflects this challenge, with the Cavaliers sitting at +15.5 point underdogs.

Cleveland Cavaliers +15.5 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

-105

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Surprisingly, the Celtics have posted a 14-14 home record in the postseason over the last three seasons, raising questions about the traditional home advantage associated with Boston sports.

This trend extends beyond basketball. The Boston Bruins have struggled, losing six of their last eight home playoff games over the past two seasons.

Jayson Tatum's inconsistency at TD Garden adds to the concern. The star forward has averaged 27 points per game on the road during this postseason, compared to just 22 points per game at home.

In Game 4, the initial spread of -8.5 widened to -11.5 following Mitchell's absence. Many doubted the Cavaliers' ability to compete without Mitchell, yet they managed to cover the spread.

A late shot by Caris Lavert played a role, but for the bettors, a win is a win.

Returning home after a seven-point victory in Game 4, the Celtics face a familiar challenge: winning on their home court. The Cavaliers triumphed by 24 points in their last meeting at TD Garden.

Will Mitchell's absence be decisive enough for such a dramatic turnaround?

The Celtics have a knack for avoiding close games, with Game 4 marking their first clutch-time encounter since April 5th against Sacramento.

If one expects the Celtics to secure the series, it's reasonable to anticipate a decisive victory.

This matchup presents an ideal opportunity for the Celtics to address their home struggles and conclude the series.

Finding their rhythm at home is imperative, especially with the looming Eastern Conference Finals and a potential Finals matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

Boston Celtics -15.5 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

-115

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Total Points

Let's take a look at the total points prop in this one.

Total Points
Over 205 Points	-110	-110	-110
Under 205 Points	-110	-110	-110

The Cavaliers average 112.6 points per game, placing them 20th in the league. They shoot 47.9% from the field.

The Cavaliers boast a 36.7% success rate from beyond the arc, hitting 1,108 of 3,016 attempts and shooting 76.5% from the free-throw line.

Cleveland grabs 43.3 rebounds per game and ranks 8th in assists with 2,299 for the season. However, they also commit 13.6 turnovers and 17.5 personal fouls per game.

The Cavaliers have been resilient in trying to overcome Jarrett Allen's and Donovan Mitchell's loss, but their offense has looked different.

On defense, the Cavaliers force 13.6 turnovers and draw 18.7 fouls per game. They allow opponents to shoot 37.1% from beyond the arc and rank 7th in points allowed per game (110.2).

Cleveland yields a field goal percentage of 46.3% and concedes 42.7 rebounds per game. They rank 6th in opponent assists allowed with 2,071 for the season.

As for the Celtics, they shoot 48.7% from the field, ranking 8th in the NBA.

them boys at it again 😤 pic.twitter.com/ie5cpUqBTU

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 14, 2024

With 9,887 points scored for the season (120.6 per game), they collect 46.3 rebounds per game and average 26.9 assists (14th in the league) while committing 11.9 turnovers and 16.2 fouls per contest.

The Celtics shot 80.7% from the free-throw line. Despite losing Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics haven't missed a step.

Defensively, the Celtics surrender 109.2 points per game, ranking 5th in the league.

They force 12.0 turnovers per game and limit opponents to 45.3% field-goal shooting (second in the league).

Boston allows opponents to shoot 35.2% from beyond the arc (1,059 of 3,008) and make 76.8% of their free throws.

They concede 24.9 assists and 43.3 rebounds per game, ranking 5th and 14th in the league, respectively.

Over 205.5 Points Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

-110

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