Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics - 12/9/19 NBA Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics

Date: Monday, December 9, 2019

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NBC Sports Boston

Odds/Point Spread: Boston -13.5

Total/Over-Under: 216

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics (16-5, 1st in the Atlantic Division) host the Cleveland Cavaliers (5-17, 5th in the Central Division) at TD Garden on Monday, December 9, 2019. Cleveland opens this game as 13.5 point underdogs. The O/U opens at 216.

The Cavaliers are covering the spread 38.1% of the time, having gone 8-13-1 ATS. Boston covers the spread 68.4% of the time, going 13-6-2 against the spread.

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/7/2019 Dylan Windler SG Lower Leg Game Time Decision
12/3/2019 Tyler Cook PF Ankle Game Time Decision

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/6/2019 Gordon Hayward SF Hand Expected to be out until at least Dec 22
12/5/2019 Romeo Langford SG Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 9
11/27/2019 Tacko Fall C Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 8

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love comes into this game averaging 16.1 points per contest while playing 30.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 10.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Collin Sexton averages 17.7 points per contest in 30.4 minutes per game. He averages 2.4 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum scores 21.2 points per contest while playing 34.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.0 rebounds per contest and has 2.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Jaylen Brown averages 20.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.9 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 102.9 points per contest, which is 29th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -10.3 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 28th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They average 43.6 boards per contest and 20.4 assists per game, which ranks them 21st and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 15th with 15.4 per game. The Cavaliers allow 113.2 points per contest, which is 19th in the NBA. They also surrender a 49% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 24th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.2 rebounds a game which ranks 10th, and they allow 26.4 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 15th in the NBA with 110.7 points per contest this season. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 7.19. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 21st in the league. They are 10th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.1 boards per contest and 19th in assists per game with 23.4. The Celtics are 29th in turnovers per contest with 13.2. The Celtics give up 103.5 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 22.6 dimes allowed per game and 23rd with 46.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Celtics are 26th in the league in forcing turnovers with 16.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 29th in the league in defensive rating with 114.2, and their offensive rating of 103.8 is ranked 27th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 27th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. Cleveland is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 56%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 29th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 25th in the league. The Celtics are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 103.6 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 20th. As a team they are 18th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -13.5

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