Cleveland (2-2) at Boston (2-2)
When: Wednesday, May 23rd 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Cleveland -1/207
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics is now down to a best-of-three and the home team has not flinched yet as the two prepare for Game 5 at TD Center in Boston on Wednesday night. The Celtics could do no wrong in the first two games, improving to 9-0 at home this postseason, but little went right in Games 3 and 4 back in Cleveland, as the Cavaliers role players stepped-up in support of their superstar. LeBron James poured in 44 points, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar atop the postseason list and helped Cleveland roll to a 111-102 victory. The Cavaliers are trying to become just the 20th team – out of 300 – to overcome a 2-0 deficit, and James, who has already orchestrated two such rallies and is seeking his eighth-straight finals, is a step closer to a third. Boston head coach Brad Stevens is trying to stay positive heading into Game 5. “It’s the best two out of three to to the NBA Finals. Doesn’t get better than that,” he said. “Ultimately, anybody that didn’t think this was going to be tough, I mean, everything is tough. In this deal, it’s a blast to have to grit your teeth, get up off the mat and go after it again.” The home team has also covered the spread in five of the last six meetings going back to the regular season and Cleveland is just 3-4 overall away from Quicken Loans Arena this postseason.
James was 17-of-28 shooting in Game 4 as he topped 40 points for the second time in a three-game span and sixth time this postseason, the most since Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson had the same amount in 2001. Kyle Korver (14 points, three blocked shots) is 13-of-20 shooting with eight 3-pointers over the past three games, while center Tristan Thompson recorded his third double-double of the postseason in Game 4 (13 points, 12 rebounds). Power forward Kevin Love averaged just 11 points on 7-of-24 shooting in the two victories after averaging 19.5 points in the two losses in Boston and is shooting just 37.5% in the series.
Boston won its two home games by average of 19 points but dropped the two in Cleveland by almost the same margin (19.5) despite five players scoring in double-figures on Monday. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown is averaging 20.3 points in the series and his 25-point effort in Game 4 was his third 20-point outing in the four games. The Celtics could use more scoring from backup guard Marcus Smart, who is just 11-of-38 in the series.
Boston played better in Game 4, but the young team is still having all sorts of trouble on the road. Playing at TD Garden has been a whole different story. The role players seem to play much better at home and the defensive intensity is more prevalent when backed by the home folks. This series is destined to go seven with the home team winning each time.
Pick: Celtics PK
- Cavaliers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Cavaliers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Cavaliers are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cavaliers are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 Wednesday games.
- Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games.
- Celtics are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS loss.
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Celtics are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 home games.
- Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Celtics are 17-7 ATS in their last 24 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
- Celtics are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Celtics are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Central.
- Celtics are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 52-24-1 ATS in their last 77 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 Wednesday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Cavaliers last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 14-6 in Cavaliers last 20 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Celtics last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 10-3 in Celtics last 13 home games.
- Over is 10-3 in Celtics last 13 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Celtics last 21 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 9-3 in Celtics last 12 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 Wednesday games.
- Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 vs. NBA Central.
- Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Under is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Boston.
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
