Boston (3-2) at Cleveland (2-3)
When: Friday, May 25th 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Cleveland -7/201.5
When you get into the third round of the NBA Playoffs, fatigued tends to set in, especially in a long, grueling series like the one the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are presently in. The youthful Celtics powered through the aging Cavaliers in a Game 5 blowout to get within one one from its first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. Home court has held serve throughout this series and LeBron James and company hope that continues as the teams meet in Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena Friday night. Rookie Jayson Tatum scored 24 points and Al Horford had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help Boston take a 3-2 series lead with a 96-83 victory on Wednesday. The Celtics remained perfect in Boston this postseason with their 10th-straight victory at home, but are just 1-6 away from TD Garden. Cleveland is trying to reach the finals for the fourth consecutive season, while James is seeking his eighth straight trip. James seemed to tire in the fourth quarter Wednesday, scoring just two points on four shots. He finished 1-of-6 from 3-point range in the game and his team made just 9-of-34 attempts from beyond the arc (42% overall). “He did look a little tired to me,” head coach Tyronn Lue said. “No concerns. You’ve got to be ready to play now.” “We’re looking forward to having an opportunity to force a Game 7,” James told reporters after Game 5.
Tatum’s performance on Wednesday was his ninth 20-point outing of the postseason, and his 312 total points trail only Elgin Baylor (331), Alvan Adams (341) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (352) for the most points in a playoffs by a rookie in NBA history. He’s not the only one contributing for the Celtics, however, as six players are averaging double-figures in points this postseason, including point guard Marcus Smart, who had a series-best 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in Game 5 after just 11-of-38 over the first four.
James finished Game 5 with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while going 11-of-22 from the floor and didn’t want to hear anything about how tired he looked out there. “I had my moments, but I think everybody at this point is tired, worn down whatever the case may be,” James told reporters. He’s scored 40 points or more twice in this series and six times in the postseason, while carrying this team on his back. Shooting guard JR Smith is averaging just 5.2 points on 9-of-39 shooting in the series.
The home team has won and covered each of the first five games of this series, and I believe the former will hold true in this contest, but the Celtics have a bit more energy at this point and will keep it close. Boston has learned a lot from their first two games in Cleveland and will be prepared tonight.
Pick: Celtics +7
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
- Celtics are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Celtics are 23-8-1 ATS in their last 32 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Celtics are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 vs. NBA Central.
- Celtics are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 games overall.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Cavaliers are 25-12 ATS in their last 37 Friday games.
- Cavaliers are 17-35-1 ATS in their last 53 home games.
- Cavaliers are 12-39-2 ATS in their last 53 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 10-3 in Celtics last 13 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Celtics last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 10-3 in Celtics last 13 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Celtics last 5 Friday games.
- Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
