The undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers (15-0) will cross paths with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (11-3) in the In-Season Tournament on Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers’ unblemished start has seen them go 7-0 on the road and beat teams such as the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks, but they’re yet to face the best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics’ three losses came by a combined total of 10 points, and they continually look like they’re set up for long-term dynastic success. They beat the Toronto Raptors in overtime via a Jayson Tatum buzzer-beating three-pointer their last time on the court but are 0-1 in the IST.
Here, we will analyze the odds and share our favorite betting picks for the Cavaliers vs. Celtics In-Season Tournament throwdown.
The Cavs are 11-4 (73.3 percent) against the spread, 2-0 ATS as an underdog, and 5-2 (71.4 percent) ATS on the road.
The C’s are 7-7 (50 percent) ATS, every result coming as the favorite, and 2-4 (33.3 percent) ATS at home.
The following odds are from BetMGM Sportsbook. Place your bets on the Cavaliers vs. Celtics game at BetMGM and claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets with our promo code WSNSPORTS.
Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Cleveland Cavaliers | +4.5 (-105) | +165 | Over 234.5 (-110) |
Boston Celtics | -4.5 (-115) | -200 | Under 234.5 (-110) |
🔥 Claimed by 133 people this week!
Parlays with enhanced odds
Impressive range of bets
Promo Code "WSNSPORTS"
Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets
21+ | Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. Available only in AZ, CO, DC, MA, MD, NC, and VA.
What a remarkable start this has been for Cleveland. Their 15-game win streak straight out of the gates tied the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the second-best start to a season in NBA history, only better by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.
Cleveland has the highest offensive and seventh-best defensive rating in the NBA, leading to it outscoring opponents by an average of 11.5 points per 100 possessions. They’re just about average in rebounding but rank fifth in assist percentage and eighth in turnover rate, meaning they create efficient offense and don’t shoot themselves in the foot.
That’s only just the tip of the iceberg here. The Cavs shot the three better than every team in the league by far, making 41.9 percent of their attempts—but they also led the league in two-point percentage, sinking 60.1 percent of their attempts.
Evan Mobley’s aggression and willingness to initiate the offense have unlocked more actions within the halfcourt, leading to better offense. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland also averaged a combined 46 points and 11.1 assists per game, while both shot better than 42 percent from beyond the arc.
What makes Cleveland a legitimate championship contender is its depth. It has the third-best bench net rating in basketball thanks to two double-digit scorers in the reserves, Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome.
The Cavs won’t stay undefeated forever, but Kenny Atkinson has done a remarkable job in his first year in charge. His team has a mind-boggling +70.8 net rating in the clutch and is ready for its biggest test of the season on Tuesday.
Side note: When was the last time that a team on a 15-game win streak was an underdog? We’d love to know.
Ready to try something new betting-wise? Head over to ProfitDuel and turn online sportsbook promo offers into cash-matched betting. Sign up today and get 50% off your first month.
The reigning league champs don’t need an introduction. They push modern basketball to the extreme with highly-versatile and switchable players who take and make a ton of threes without sacrificing their overall efficiency.
Boston is third in net rating (+10.2) and ranks second in offensive and ninth in defensive efficiency. The team checks in one spot behind the Cavs in rebound rate but is 17th in assist-to-turnover ratio, whereas Cleveland is first.
Not to bury the lede, the Celtics make an average of 18.9 three-pointers per game. That puts them on pace to smash the record for made threes in a season and is 3.4 more per game than the Cavs.
What makes them different from other teams with bombs-away philosophies is that they defend the heck out of the perimeter, holding teams to 34.6 shooting from deep (sixth). Cleveland, for all of its excellent defense, allows the third-highest percentage (37.8) to its opponents.
Jayson Tatum averaged nearly 30 points per game to go with 7.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists, while Jaylen Brown is close behind at 25.6 points per night. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard also averaged career-highs in scoring, while Kristaps Porzingis is yet to make his return from an injury.
Boston doesn’t play at an overwhelming pace, but they get the ball across halfcourt quickly and immediately flow into their actions. They never hesitate to take shots if given the slightest bit of space and can match up with anyone because of their versatility.
Use WSNSPORTS at BetMGM for $1,500 Bonus
Cavaliers vs. Celtics pick: Celtics -4.5 (-115) at BetMGM
This is a situation in which although the Celtics are favored, the majority of bets are on the Cavs.
Cleveland only won one of three matchups with Boston last year (by one point). Although they never played at the level they currently are, it is a gentle reminder that Cleveland’s unique player profiles and matchups can be countered by Boston’s length and activity.
The Cavs deserve endless amounts of praise for their start, but their troubles defending the three combined with Boston’s ability to create turnovers puts them in position to win and cover on their home floor.
Claim $1,500 in Bonus Bets at BetMGM
FanDuel Sportsbook has something special for basketball fans! New members of FanDuel can claim 3 months of NBA League Pass subscription with a $5 initial winning wager, and that's on top of $150 in bonus bets. Just be sure to pick a safe bet, and when it hits, both bonuses will be added to your FanDuel account.
Click on the image below and claim this offer today!
When: Tuesday, Nov. 19 @ 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: TNT
Responsible Gambling
If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices. Visit our Responsible Gambling Center for more details.
Warriors vs. Nuggets Prediction and Odds for December 3: Jokic, Curry Go Head-to-Head
3 hours ago | Grant MitchellNBA Player Props and Best Bets for December 3: Jamal Murray Props and More
4 hours ago | Grant MitchellBest Magic vs. Knicks Same Game Parlay: Wagner, Magic Have Won Four Straight Road Wins
4 hours ago | Christian Jope
We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call
1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such
as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media
company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St.
Julians, STJ3148, Malta.
Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on
one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.
Copyright © 2024