CLEVELAND @ BOSTON (BOS -11.5, 208.5)
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CAVALIERS VS. CELTICS 5/7/24
The top-seeded Boston Celtics will have to take a deep breath before they begin their Eastern Conference semifinal series against a team that has already stated it has more to prove. When Game 1 begins at Boston tonight, both the fatigued Cleveland Cavaliers and the well-rested Celtics will try to take the early series lead.
After defeating the No. 8 seeded Miami Heat in five games, Boston advanced. Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points as fourth-seeded Cleveland extended its season with a decisive 106-94 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday in the deciding Game 7.
Despite dealing with a left knee injury all season long, Mitchell scored 50 points in a Game 6 loss in Orlando. He then followed it up with the 39-point outburst in the Game 7 win. Out of his 52 career playoff games, he has scored at least 30 points in 23 of them.
It's expected that both teams will be undermanned. Boston C Kristaps Porzingis suffered a right calf injury during the series against Miami. That injury will likely keep him out of the entire second round.
Cleveland C Jarrett Allen has missed the previous three games due to a rib injury. In 77 regular season games, Allen averaged career-highs of 16.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 10.5 rebounds. In four postseason games against the Magic, he averaged 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds.
In Sunday's series-winning victory, the Cavaliers overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half. Caris LeVert came off the bench to score 15 points in Game 7. It was the type of effort that shows Cleveland will fight to pull the upset over Boston.
During the regular season, the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers twice in three meetings. On March 5, Cleveland won 106-105 at home without Mitchell in the game. In December, the Celtics won back-to-back games, 120-113 and 116-107.
The best-of-seven series' second game is scheduled for Thursday in Boston. The Cavaliers are up for the challenge as the Celtics attempt to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive year.
Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games and 9 of its last 10 at home against the Cavaliers. Cleveland has won just 7 of the past 20 games against the Celtics.
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FREE PICK: DONOVAN MITCHELL OVER 32.5 PTS + ASTS
Even though Mitchell has gone Under his PTS + ASTS prop in 10 of his last 15 games, he’s going Over tonight. Don’t forget, he went way Over this number in each of his last two games against Orlando. Mitchell also went Over in his last two games against Boston. He’s also gone Over tonight’s number in 6 of his last 8 games against Boston. In a game of this magnitude, Mitchell will rise to the top. In 52 career playoff games, Mitchell has scored 30 points in 23 of them. Mitchell is averaging 33.1 combined points and assists during the postseason.
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