Celtics vs. Cavaliers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Celtics vs. Cavaliers Odds
| Celtics Odds | +8 |
| Cavaliers Odds | -8 |
| Over/Under | 217 |
| Date | Mon, Mar. 6 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. |
| TV | BSOH |
On Monday, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Entering play, Boston (45-20) owns the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, with Cleveland (40-26) currently occupying the 4-seed. Nevertheless, oddsmakers are anticipating a Cavaliers win in this spot, pricing Cleveland as 6.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Boston Celtics
Tatum Horford, Williams OUT
Ahead of tip-off this evening, the Boston Celtics will be without a number of key players, with Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and “(player-popup #robert-williams-iii)Robert Williams III each ruled out. Tatum, the team’s leading scorer is sixth in the entire NBA in points per game this season. Horford and Williams are two of Boston’s more impactful rebounders, combining to average 14.9 boards per contest.
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Celtics have played only 743 possessions this season with all three players off of the court. In that sample size, Boston ranks in the 35th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 64th percentile in defensive efficiency.
Who will step up for Boston?
According to CourtIQ, Derrick White (+6.8%) and Malcolm Brogdon (+4.9%) see the largest increase in usage of any players on the roster when Tatum, Horford, and Williams are off of the floor.
In these situations, White is averaging 19.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per 36 minutes of action. Brogdon is averaging 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per 36 minutes. Expect both players to be heavily involved in the offensive gameplan today.
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell listed as questionable
On Monday, Cleveland could be without Donovan Mitchell, who is listed as questionable with a left finger sprain. Per Cleaning the Glass, Cleveland ranks in the 78th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 84th percentile in defensive efficiency when Mitchell is on the floor this year, compared to the 54th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 89th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Struggles against good teams
According to Danny Cunningham, Cleveland has not beaten a team with a winning record since February 2. Tonight, they have an opportunity to get a cheap victory against the 2-seed Celtics, which will be without multiple key players from their rotation.
Still, it is worth noting that the Cavaliers have a 14-19 record against teams .500 and above this season, and are the only team in the top-five in the Eastern Conference to have a losing record against winning teams.
Celtics vs. Cavaliers – Picks & Predictions
The Cleveland Cavaliers certainly deserve to be favored in this matchup tonight against the short-handed Boston Celtics, but the line has likely run too far here for there to be any value left on the home favorites.
When Boston was without a number of key starters against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 14, they took their opponent to overtime on the road – a place where the Bucks are 27-6 this season. Derrick White and others are capable of stepping up and keeping this game competitive on Monday. Take the road underdogs and the points in this spot.
PICK: Celtics +8 (-110, DraftKings)
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