The Boston Celtics are hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers in this Eastern Conference showdown. The Celtics are coming off a devastating loss on the road to the Detroit Pistons, 117-97. The Cavaliers are coming off a dominant win on the road against the Orlando Magic, 122-82. With this being a battle of the top two teams in the East, we could be looking at an Eastern Conference Finals preview. Let’s dive into it and cook up a winning slip!
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2.5 (-112) | Over 232.5 (-108) | +120 |
| Boston Celtics | -2.5 (-108) | Under 232.5 (-112) | -142 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Match Details
- Fixture: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics
- Date and Time: February 28th, 2025 @ 7:30 PM EST
Key Stats
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off a dominating win against the Orlando Magic, 122-82. It was the true definition of a team win. Ty Jerome led the team with 20 points on 7/12 shooting from the floor. Donovan Mitchell was good in his limited minutes. He finished the game with 11 points and five assists in only 23 minutes. De’Andre Hunter was unconscious from three in this game. Hunter scored 17 points on 4/5 from distance. The Cavs had ten players with +11 or more when they were on the court. Cleveland sits in 1st place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 48-10.
The Cavs are an above-average team in terms of their defense. For the season, they are ranked 10th in points allowed per game, 4th in opponent field goal percentage, 17th in opponent 3-point field goal percentage, 25th in blocks per game, 11th in steals per game, 8th in rebounds per game, and 7th in defensive rating. Regarding injuries, the Cavaliers are fully healthy. In their last ten games, Cleveland has a record of 9-1, including 5-3-2 against the spread in that timeframe. They have been one of the best teams all season and look to continue that path post-all-star break.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are looking to bounce back after a devastating road loss to the Detroit Pistons, 117-97. Derrick White was sensational despite the loss. White finished with 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, and five stocks. Jayson Tatum was subpar, with only 19 points on 7/18 shooting. Tatum, however, did dish out 11 assists and was a +20 when he was on the floor. Jaylen Brown had a nice performance with 24 points and five rebounds on 10/18 shooting, 0/5 from three. With a record of 42-17, the Boston Celtics currently sit in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.
In terms of their defense, the Celtics are one of the best teams in the NBA. For the season, they are ranked 3rd in points allowed per game, 3rd in opponent field goal percentage, 2nd in opponent 3-point field goal percentage, 6th in blocks per game, 29th in steals per game, 11th in rebounds per game, and 5th in defensive rating. When you look at their injuries, the Celtics have a few to monitor. Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and Jaylen Brown are listed as questionable. Over their last ten games, the Celtics have a record of 8-2, including 6-4-0 against the spread.
Prediction
The Boston Celtics are going to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers at home and cover the 2.5-point spread in this game. I am riding with the better team and the defending NBA Champions at home. After getting embarrassed in their last game, they are in a prime bounce-back spot and have plenty to play for. They will close the gap between them and the Cavs with a win. Boston leads the season series 2-1. Jaylen Brown should return to the lineup, which gives the C’s their 1-2 punch back. The Boston Celtics defend their home court and defeat the Cavaliers in this game.
Final Pick
Boston Celtics -2.5 (-108)
