The Cleveland Cavaliers return to Boston tonight as the basketball gambling favorites to knock out the Celtics in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs shot 71% in the second half of game 4 on Tuesday and their 112-99 win improved their record to 35-5 versus Eastern teams in the postseason since 2015 and gave them a 3-1 lead in the series. Meanwhile, the Celtics entered the playoffs 22-5 at the TD Garden since January 1st. They currently are 5-4 in the playoffs.
Time: 8:35 PM
Venue: TD Garden
Sportsbook NBA online betting odds:
Cavaliers -10 (-110) 216 (-110) -550
Celtics +10 (-110) 216 (-110) +425
Cleveland
Key players: LeBron James picked up right where he left off in game, getting into foul trouble in the first half, but still managed to score 34 points. However, it was Kyrie Irving’s show. The point guard went on a five-minute, 19-point scoring spree in the fourth quarter which included three-point shots, layups, and a free-throw. Irving finished with a postseason-high 42 points. “The kid is special,” LeBron said. Well, he believes the Earth is flat, so he is special, all right. “I was happy to sit back and watch him. He was born for these moments,” James added. Kevin Love scored 17 points and grabbed 17 boards.
NBA online betting odds trends: The Cavs have won 11 of the 12 games, 80% of their last five meetings with the Celtics, and their last five on the road. Additionally, Cleveland has gone 5-0-2 against the spread in the last seven road games. The basketball gambling total has gone over in the 14 of the Cavs’ last 20 and under in two thirds of their last six versus Boston.
Boston
Key players: Isaiah Thomas has been doctor-shopping before deciding whether to get hip surgery. Meanwhile no Celtic broke the 20-point mark on Tuesday. Avery Bradley finished with 19, Jae Crowder had 18, and Al Horford added 16. Head coach Brad Stevens was disappointed with his team’s defense – or lack thereof – on Irving. “There’s choices,” Stevens said. “I’m not sure there are good choices. When he gets going like that, he’s tough to stop. The ones we gotta look at are the ones he got at the rim.” Terry Rozier came close to saving the day when Irving stepped on his foot and rolled his ankle, but other than that, the Celtics were at a loss as to how to stop him.
NBA online betting odds trends: Boston has lost two thirds of their last six games but has covered in 11 of their last 15. The Celtics have prevailed in 18 if their last 25 home games but have dropped six of their last seven times hosting the Cavs. Boston is 1-6 against the spread in their last seven home games versus Cleveland. The basketball gambling total has gone under in four of the Celtics’ last six against the Cavs and under in seven of their last eight games when playing at home versus Cleveland.