Cavaliers vs. Celtics Odds, Picks, Predictions: Boston Poised For Bounce-back Effort

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01 March 2023

Cavaliers vs. Celtics Odds, Picks, Predictions: Boston Poised For Bounce-back Effort

Boston has dropped its first two meetings with the Cavaliers in 2022-23 and is coming off a blowout loss in New York. Can the Celtics get back on track Wednesday? Read on for our Cavaliers-Celtics NBA picks based on the best NBA odds.

The Boston Celtics hope to bounce back from one of their worst shooting performances of the season when they return home from a three-game road trip to host the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston hit just nine of its 42 3-point attempts during Monday’s 109-94 blowout loss to the Knicks. The defeat dropped the Celtics behind Milwaukee in the chase to sit atop the NBA's standings.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has been enjoying two days to prepare after routing the Raptors 118-93 on Sunday at home to snap a three-game losing streak. Donovan Mitchell went 8-for-12 from distance while finishing the contest with 35 points. Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley combined to add 59 more points.

Here is our best Cavaliers-Celtics NBA pick (odds via BetMGM; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Cavaliers vs. Celtics pick

Over 219.5 (-105 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

To say Boston’s ugly shooting performance Monday in New York was an outlier is an understatement. After shooting 41% or higher on 3-point attempts in seven of their previous eight games, the Celtics went a season-worst 21.4% from behind the arc against the Knicks, missing 16 straight threes at one point.

I’m expecting the Celtics to return to their efficient selves on Wednesday, especially as Jaylen Brown comes back after missing Monday’s contest for personal reasons. The Cavs are allowing the fewest points per game in the league, but they’re vulnerable to the three while allowing opponents to shoot 37% from downtown. Cleveland’s defense has also been a bit softer lately, with the Over hitting in four straight games involving the Cavs before a struggling Toronto offense was held to 93 points.

At the other end of the court, the Cavaliers have been showing they can score on this Boston defense, finishing with 114 and 132 points in the two prior meetings this season. Those point totals are a bit inflated because both games went to overtime, but Cleveland still averaged 110.5 points in regulation.

Mitchell is in fine shooting form and Allen is also playing with plenty of confidence in the paint, recording double-doubles in nine of his last 12 contests. Both teams are well-positioned to score 110-plus points, making the Over a comfortable play up to 221.

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Cavaliers vs. Celtics best odds

BetMGM (Over 219.5, -105)

DraftKings is offering the lowest total on this game among our top recommended sportsbooks, listing the Over at 219 with -115 odds. However, the half-point isn’t worth paying 10 cents of juice, which is why I recommend taking the 219.5 at BetMGM and the discounted -105 price.

FanDuel, Caesars, and PointsBet are also sitting at 219.5 with standard -110 pricing on both sides.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds

Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds analysis

The side and total have both experienced significant movement since the line opened on Tuesday, with the Celtics as 6.5-point favorites and the total at 223. Cleveland had been bet down to as low as 4.5-point underdogs at BetMGM. But you’d need to lay -115 juice to back the favored Celtics at that price, while the total dropped to 219.5 at most sportsbooks.