The Boston Celtics (1-0) will be 1-point favorites at home in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals when they clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1). The games Over/Under (O/U) opened at 202.5 points and it can be seen on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics ATS Odds
In game one, Morris led the Celtics to a 108-83 victory. He registered a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The two teams combined to score 191 points, which was under the projected point total of 203.5, and Boston covered as a 1-point favorite. Boston had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.577 vs. 0.384). Cleveland, on the other hand, did a terrific job of making free throws (17-20; 85.0 percent).
Boston could have trouble getting to the charity stripe in this contest. The Celtics currently rank 18th in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.191, while Cleveland ranks second in FTA rate allowed (0.168). Moreover, the Cavaliers rank fifth in offensive efficiency (110.8), while the Celtics rank second in defensive efficiency (102.6).
Vegas is highly accurate when predicting totals of Cavaliers games, with an even split between overs and unders. Cleveland is 58-36 straight up (SU), but they struggle covering the spread (36-56-2 against the spread (ATS)).
In opposition of Cleveland, a little over half of Celtics games have finished over the total. Further, Boston owns records of 64-31 SU and 58-33-4 ATS.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers are 13-8 ATS with 11 unders, nine overs and one push while the Celtics are 3-3 with five unders and one over,
Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum have been playing well over the last five games for Boston. Rozier has averaged 19.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals, while Tatum has recorded 23.6 points and 3.2 assists a game during that span.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Cavaliers, ATS Winner – Cavaliers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Cavaliers rank 23rd in points in the paint per game (43.4) while the Celtics rank 29th (40.3).
- Boston ranks fourth in assists allowed per game (21.5) while Cleveland ranks 28th (25.3).
- The Celtics rank third in second chance points allowed per game (11.0) while the Cavaliers rank 16th (12.8).
- Cleveland ranks 14th in fast break points per game (12.0) while Boston ranks 27th (9.6).
- Boston ranks fifth in steals allowed per game (7.1) while Cleveland ranks 11th (7.3).
- The Celtics rank eighth in three pointers allowed per game (27.5) while the Cavaliers rank 28th (31.1).
- The Celtics rank 18th in blocks per game (4.6) while the Cavaliers rank 27th (3.8).
- Boston ranks 10th in rebounds per game (44.2) while Cleveland ranks 25th (41.7).
- In games where they allow below 100 points, Cleveland is 19-5 and Boston is 40-6.
- When reaching 100 points, the Cavaliers are 55-18 and the Celtics are 50-14.
- Cleveland is 22-24-1 ATS on the road, while Boston is 28-17-4 ATS at home.
- The total has gone over in 25 of the Cavaliers 47 road games, while 29 of the Celtics 49 home games have gone over.
Betting Trends:
- The Celtics are 4-1 ATS over their last five games, while the Cavaliers are 3-2.
- In their last five games, Boston has 3 unders and 2 overs, while Cleveland has 3 overs and 2 unders.
- The Celtics average margin of victory in their last five games has been 4.8, up from 3.6 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Cavaliers have scored an average of 111.4 points per game (1.7 above their season average) and allowed an average of 105.2 points per game (3.8 below their season average).
