Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 5/23/2018

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The series is tied 2-2 after the Cavs won both games in Cleveland pretty easily. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 1 point favorites.

The Cavaliers head into this matchup after finishing the regular season with a mark of 50-32. They were 1st in the Central Division. They had a point differential of 1.0 as they averaged 110.9 points per contest while giving up 109.9 per game. The Celtics had an overall record of 55-27 during the regular season. They finished the campaign 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They averaged 104.0 points per game and surrendered 100.4, good for a point differential of 3.6.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 37-57-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 46-49-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 59-34-4 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 50-46-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
05/09/18 G Shane Larkin Shoulder is out indefinitely
04/05/18 G Kyrie Irving Knee is out for season
03/12/18 F Daniel Theis Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love averages 17.6 points per game in 28 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 9.3 rebounds per game for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 88%. LeBron James comes into this contest averaging 27.5 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Cavaliers. He pulls down 8.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 9.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 73%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 13.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 5 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 7.4 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers allow 109.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 26th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 28th and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 25.9 assists per contest which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league. Cleveland averages 110.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.94 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 42.1 rebounds per game and 23.4 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 21st with 13.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Celtics surrender 100.4 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 21.3 assists allowed per contest, and 21st with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season. Boston is 20th in the league with 104 points per game this year. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.59. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game and 20th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Celtics are 16th in turnovers per game with 14.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111.9, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 2nd. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Cleveland is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 29th in the NBA. The Celtics are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 103.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 29th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Boston +1

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