Cavaliers vs Celtics Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 11/19/24
- J.A. Cavalier
- Nov 19, 2024
- 3 min read
MEMPHIS @ GOLDEN STATE (GSW -7.5, 235.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
CAVALIERS @ CELTICS 11/19/24
Cleveland is just the fourth NBA team to start a season with 15 straight victories. The Cavs 128-114 win over Charlotte on Sunday made Cleveland a perfect 15-0. Now, it’s on to Boston Tuesday night to take on the defending NBA champions. The Celtics will try to become the first team to beat the Cavs this season. The books like Boston’s chances as the Celtics are a 4.5-point favorite.
The matchup will be the second NBA Cup game for each team. This is also a rematch of last season’s playoff series that was dominated by the Celtics. Boston won that series in four games. Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell did not play in the final two games of that series due to a calf injury.
As mentioned, three other teams reached 15-0 in their NBA seasons. The most recent was Golden State in 2015-16. The Houston Rockets did it in 1993-94 and the old Washington Capitols ripped off 15 straight wins to start the 1948-49 NBA season. Only one of those teams won a 16th game - Golden State. The Warriors would actually go 24-0 before losing their first game of the season.
Cleveland won on Sunday without Mitchell in the lineup. Last season, the Cavs went 12-15 in games without Mitchell. He will be available against the Celtics. Mitchell leads the Cavs scoring 24.6 points a game. Cleveland is the top offense in the NBA, averaging 123.7 points per game.
The Cavs are fourth in the NBA in paint points per game (53.4). Boston just gave up 76 points in the paint in a 126-123 overtime win over Toronto on Saturday. The Celtics interior defense actually ranks 28th in the league in defending the paint. Boston allows 53.0 paint points per game. Boston head coach Joe Mazzula has said that his team must improve its individual defense and rebounding. The Celtics are the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference with an 11-3 record.
Cleveland opened NBA Cup play last Friday. The Cavs beat the Chicago Bulls 144-126. Boston began NBA Cup play last Tuesday. The Celtics lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 12. Boston’s five-out offense will present a quality test to the Cleveland defense. The Cavs are a top-10 scoring defense, ranking No. 7 in defensive rating. We already mentioned the Cavs league-leading offense.
Combine that offense and defense you see why the Cavs have the highest average scoring margin in the NBA. The Cavs are beating opponents by an average of +12.3 points. That is why in addition to being 15-0 SU, Cleveland is also 11-4 ATS. The Cavs are 6-2 ATS at home and 5-2 ATS in road games this season.
Boston’s Jrue Holiday missed the Celtics game against Toronto on Saturday. He is expected to play tonight. The Celtics have won 16 of their last 20 games and they are 10-2 SU in their last 12 at home. Boston has covered just twice in its last six games.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
DONOVAN MITCHELL OVER 27.5 POINTS
There’s something about playing the Celtics that brings out the best in Mitchell. In his last 15 games overall, he’s only gone Over this number 6 times. However, if you take a look at how Mitchell has done against Boston, you’ll see he hits this number often. Remember, Mitchell did miss the last two games of last year’s playoff series, but in each of his last five games against Boston, he’s gone Over this number. In 16 career games against Boston, he’s averaged 29.6 points.
