Cavaliers vs Celtics Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 15-game win streak to start the season puts them on a collision course with the Boston Celtics, and they come face-to-face with the NBA champions tonight.

Cleveland won a game at TD Garden during last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, but my Cavaliers vs. Celtics predictions signal a statement game from a locked-in Boston team.

With two star-studded rosters squaring off, check out my NBA picks and betting angles for this marquee November 19 matchup.

Cavaliers vs Celtics prediction

My best bet
Celtics -5.5 (-105 at bet365)

My analysis
If the Boston Celtics needed a big primetime date to jolt them out of the regular season grind, this is it. The in-form Cleveland Cavaliers arrive in Boston looking to extend their flawless start, and they’ve already taken down the Warriors, Knicks, and Bucks (twice).

However, I expect Boston to be at full throttle, especially after losing its opening NBA Cup game, and I’m laying the points with the hosts, who will surely be motivated to remind Cleveland of the pecking order in the East.

The Celtics just seem to have more answers in this matchup. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have been terrific this year as the dual engines for this Cavs offense, but you couldn’t ask for a better defensive backcourt than Jrue Holiday — back from a knee issue — and Derrick White to apply the brakes.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the floor, I don’t see Cleveland having answers for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Boston’s nightly 3-point avalanche. A reliable 3-and-D wing is still the biggest gap on the visitors’ roster.

Look for Mobley to get the Tatum assignment, but there are lots of other matchups for the Celtics to probe, with Garland likely to be a popular target on switches.

I’m also keying in on the hosts’ shooting depth, with Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser coming off the bench, while the Cavs are missing Max Strus, Dean Wade, and possibly Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro.

Regardless of the result tonight, Cleveland is shaping up as a real postseason contender, but I’m banking on Boston having the last laugh here.

Cavaliers vs Celtics same-game parlay

Celtics -5.5

Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds

First quarter Over 55.5

+425 at bet365

If there’s one area where Cleveland has an edge, it’s on the boards with their Mobley-Allen double-big lineup. The Celtics are a smaller group without Kristaps Porzingis, and they’ll need an active effort from Tatum on the glass here to prevent a parade of second-chance points.

Tatum has been willing to do that hard graft, and I like the Over on his rebounds prop, with the O/U still at 8.5. He’s pulled down 9+ boards in four of his last five outings, and he led Boston with 11 rebounds against the Raptors in Saturday’s OT victory.

Both of these teams have peppered the first quarter Over, dating back to last season. That’s been a winning ticket in 35 of Cleveland’s last 44 games and 41 of Boston’s past 58 contests. This feels like a game where both teams get off to a flier, forcing the head coaches into early adjustments.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Cavaliers vs Celtics odds

Cavaliers vs Celtics live odds

Cavaliers vs Celtics opening odds

• Spread: Cleveland +3.5 | Boston -3.5
• Moneyline: Cleveland +140 | Boston -175
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Cavaliers vs Celtics spread and Over/Under analysis

• The Cavs are 7-0 on the road this year, but they’ve lost five of their last six games in Boston, including Game 1 and Game 5 in last season’s playoff series.
  
  
• While the visitors are 11-4 ATS overall this season, they’re only 2-3 ATS in their past five outings.
  
  
• The Over is 10-5 for Cleveland this season, and Kenny Atkinson has got the offense humming to the tune of 123.7 ppg — No.1 in the NBA, including a 144-point effort against the Bulls last week.
  
  
• The Celtics rank second in the league with 121.6 ppg, and they always keep the Over in play when they’re averaging 51 3-point attempts a night.

Cavaliers vs Celtics trend

Powered by fast starts, the Celtics have cashed the first-half moneyline in 49 of their last 63 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Celtics.

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