Celtics vs Cavaliers: Betting preview, TV Schedule & predictions for game 4

Celtics vs Cavaliers: The Cavs did well to respond to Boston in game 2 following an embarrassing opening game defeat, but Saturday’s fixture had many of the same undertones as that one-sided affair to start the Eastern Conference semifinals. A 106-93 win for Boston over the Cavs leaves Cleveland with a lot of soul-searching before Monday night’s game, but can they claw their way back into this series once again?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of game 4.

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Celtics vs Cavaliers: Game info

Date: Thursday, May 9th
Time: 7:00PM ET
Location: Rocket Mortgage, Fieldhouse
TV channel: ESPN

Celtics vs Cavaliers: Betting info

Spread: Boston Celtics -8 (-110) | Cleveland Cavaliers +8 (-110)
Moneyline: Boston Celtics -345 | Cleveland Cavaliers +275
Total: Over/Under 208 points

Celtics vs Cavaliers: Betting preview

The Celtics didn’t take their blip in game 2 lightly. Jayson Tatum pushed back to his best to amass 33 points and 13 rebounds, his best game of the series so far. He was aided by another strong showing from Jaylen Brown, who has become a stalwart for the Celtics both in this series and over the last few seasons. In fact, he ended the regular season with a career-high in FG% and that has carried over blissfully into the postseason. He’s become a hotspot for bettors when building their parlays and that shouldn’t change ahead of Monday’s affair.

As for the Cavs, they ride and die on the shoulders of Donovan Mitchell. He put up 33 points in game 3, going 7-of-12 from beyond the arc and consistently keeping his team just within reach. Unfortunately, the supporting cast just wasn’t up to scratch last time out, with Mitchell being the only player to surpass the 20-point mark and the team collectively shooting just 42% on the night. They were out-rebounded once again, missing the talents of Jarrett Allen, and they had no answer for the continued excellence of the Celtics’ offense.

This is a key matchup in the series. Now down 2-1 and in front of their home fans, the Cavs crave momentum. They cannot afford to head back to Boston down 3-1, and if they can prolong the series even by one more game, it keeps the ‘Jarrett Allen return’ lifeline alive. The center has missed 6 consecutive playoff games and the lack of presence in the backcourt has become a glaring weakness that Boston have exploited again and again. While this isn’t a must-win scenario, it’s about as close as it gets.

Sixers 76ers celtics vs cavaliers — Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Celtics vs Cavaliers: Betting pick

The spread in game 2 was 13.5 points. While the Celtics covered that number in game 3, Cleveland did win outright pretty comfortably in that second matchup. While Mitchell’s teammates lacked consistency last time out, there’s at reason to believe that the floor for this game is somewhere between the blowouts and the big win. That should see them at least cover the spread in a game they really need to win to keep this series within reach.

Betting pick: Cleveland Cavaliers +8