No other pro sport can rival basketball’s home court advantage. National Hockey League road teams win almost half it’s playoff games. That simply doesn’t happen in the National Basketball Association. Cleveland was embarrassed in its first two post season games at Boston. They came nowhere near covering the NBA betting online odds. But once they took the floor at Quicken Loans Arena everything flipped. The Cavaliers became supermen. The Celtics found their own kryptonite. Boston looked quite flawed in game three at Cleveland. While the once helpless Cavaliers had the look of an NBA champ!
Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Game 4
Date and Time: Monday, May 21, 2018, 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | +7 (-110) | 205½ (-110) |  |
| Cavaliers | -7 (-110) | 205½ (-110) | |
| |||
Celtics vs. Cavaliers TV Coverage: ESPN
Series so Far
Cleveland easily covered a 116-86 NBA betting online win in game three. Boston was a 6.5 point dog that never had a chance. The Cavaliers seized the initiative with a 32-17 first quarter advantage. And never looked back. LeBron James led the Cavs with 27 points and 12 assists. Kevin Love added 13 points and 14 rebounds. A whopping total of six Cavaliers scored in double digits. Jayson Tatum had 18 for the Celts. The next best Boston total was Terry Rozier’s modest 13 points. Cleveland suffocated Boston’s shooting percentage at 39%. While the Cavs hit 49% of their shots.
Team v Team Stats
So far in post season the Celtics have covered just two out of six away games. Four of those six games went under the sportsbook total. Cleveland failed to get the money in their first five home post season games. But they have since paid out in their last two at Quicken Loans Arena. Five of their seven playoff home games went under the total.
Boston has been a solid betting value at Cleveland. In their last seven visits to Quicken Loans Arena the Celtics covered five times. Three of the last four between these teams at Cleveland went under.
Celtics
In game three the Celtics lack of a marquee star player was exposed. Kyrie Irving was that man in the regular season. But a bad knee has sidelined him for the playoffs. Head coach Brad Stevens has been exceptional at getting the most out of what he has. But the Celtics lacked an answer for James and Love in game three. Stevens now must face his greatest test yet. Coming up with a winning game plan on the road at Cleveland seems impossible. But if the brilliant young coach can find an answer everything changes.
Boston still has a fighting chance
Boston has the chance to go home for game five with the chance to clinch the series. Cleveland is not likely to get out of TD Garden alive in that scenario. Thus, the high stakes for this game.
Matchup to Watch
As impressive as Stevens and Boston have been they got a reality check on Saturday night. Cleveland is a far different team at home. And that is the NBA betting online matchup advantage. Home court changes everything.
Celtics vs. Cavaliers NBA games Betting Odds Picks
Look for Cleveland to even this series.
NBA Betting Online Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Cavaliers 112, Celtics 91