Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Odds, Analysis and NBA Betting Pick
The Boston Celtics (38-22) know they have to beat the best to be the best in the Eastern Conference and the NBA.
The Atlantic-leading Celtics will try to prove themselves yet again as legitimate title contenders rather than pretenders when they host the defending-champion Cleveland Cavaliers (41-17) on Wednesday.
Point spread: The Cavaliers opened as one-point favorites; the total is at 221.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.
NBA betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 110.4-103.4 Cavaliers (NBA picks on every game)
Why the Cavaliers can cover the spread
Cleveland has won eight of the past nine meetings with Boston, with the last three all decided by six points or more. While the Cavaliers are just 1-2-1 against the spread in the previous four games between the teams, all of them were at home and saw them favored by six or more points.
The last three times they visited the Celtics, they won by eight points or more, including an 89-77 victory in their last trip there as 1.5-point road favorites on December 15, 2015.
Why the Celtics can cover the spread
Boston has dropped three of four SU overall and failed to cover four of five, but this is the team's last game before embarking on a five-game West Coast road trip. The previous four times the Celtics have gone on a road trip of three games or more, they have won their last home game before leaving.
This is also obviously a statement game for them, as they would love to give Cleveland something to think about before a potential playoff matchup down the road, possibly in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Smart betting pick
With the uncertainly surrounding Kevin Durant's knee injury for the Golden State Warriors, per Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Cavaliers have a real opportunity to seize the top overall seed in the league if they can go on a hot streak. They went 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in February and start March by playing six of seven on the road.
Cleveland did not make any deals before the NBA trade deadline but has since picked up a solid veteran in point guard Deron Williams and could get center Andrew Bogut by the weekend, according to his agent, per Associated Press (h/t NBA.com), showing this team is all-in for another championship run. Look for the Cavs to make a statement with an easy win and cover at online sports betting sites.
NBA betting trends
Cleveland is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games.
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last five games on the road.
The total has gone over in 12 of Boston's last 18 games at home.
All NBA lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
