The Cleveland Cavaliers were expected to dominate the Boston Celtics in basketball betting but it is looking more and more likely that their series is going seven games. The teams split their first four games in NBA betting and if they split the next two that would mean a seventh game in this series which would be in Cleveland on Sunday.
Basketball betting odds favor Cleveland in Game 5 but the Cavaliers are vulnerable. They have already lost at home in this series and they have had no answer for Boston guard Rajon Rondo. Cleveland’s LeBron James gets all of the attention but the best player in this series has been Rondo. He had a triple double in Game 4 as the Celtics evened the series against Cleveland.
Rondo scored 29 points, while pulling down 18 rebounds and dishing out 13 assists. For a guard to get that many rebounds is very unusual. Rondo actually had more offensive rebounds than the entire Cleveland team. “He was absolutely sensational tonight,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. Rondo is averaging 21.8 points, 13 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game in this series.
The Cavaliers are favored to win this series in NBA betting but it is no longer a certainty. Rondo is the reason why Boston could steal this series and add to the frustration of LeBron James. “He’s got a great nose for the basketball,” Cleveland head coach Mike Brown said about Rondo. “All of his rebounds aren’t necessarily ones that come right off the rim. If they’re long and they hit that ground and you stand and watch, he’s coming up with them because he’s extremely quick to the ball.” The Cavaliers are considering putting James on Rondo but that matchup may not work either since that would open up Paul Pierce to score. Rondo is giving the credit for his success to the big three of Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen. “My numbers tonight were what they were, but we still go through the Big Three,” he said. “They’re the main focal point. That’s why I’m able to get so many open looks and be so aggressive.”
The Cavaliers are 7.5 point favorites in basketball betting odds in Game 5 on Tuesday in Cleveland. The total on Game 5 which can be seen on TNT is listed at 193.5.