Boston opened as 3-point favourites to win, with a total of 232 on the NBA odds.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds

Much more often than not, either the top seed in the Eastern or Western Conference wins the NBA Finals each year, and it has happened each of the past two seasons with Boston in 2024 and Denver in 2023. If the Celtics are going to repeat as NBA champions – and they are +210 to do so – it almost surely will be as the second-place team in the East as they are 6.5 games behind first-place Cleveland.

It’s not a sure thing that the NBA-best Cavaliers will lose seven more games, so even a Celtics win tonight to close the gap a bit might not matter in the long run. To win the East, Boston is -125 and Cleveland +230. They would only meet in the East Finals after Friday as it marks the final regular-season meeting. The Cavs lead 2-1 but lost their lone trip to Beantown, 120-117, in mid-November.

All-Star Donovan Mitchell has torched the Celtics this season in averaging 33.7 points per game. Jarrett Allen averages 11.7 points and 13.0 rebounds. All-Star Jayson Tatum leads Boston in the series averaging 29.3 points and 8.0 rebounds.

The Celtics beat the Cavs in five games in the 2024 East semifinals, but the teams have split the past 10 regular-season matchups with the over-under at 6-4.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is on an NBA-high eight-game winning streak following a thoroughly impressive 40-point win in Orlando on Tuesday in a 2024 playoff rematch. It tied as the Cavs’ largest road win ever and was such a rout that star Donovan Mitchell played only 23 minutes. Mitchell’s 197 made 3-pointers are sixth-most in the league, and he is on the verge of becoming the first player in Cavs history to have multiple seasons with at least 200 made. Evan Mobley had 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks Tuesday and is the new betting favourite for NBA Defensive Player of the Year with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, the former favourite, now out for the season. Mobley ranks fifth in the NBA in contested shots per game (10.2), third in in net rating (15.3) and second in overall plus-minus (+503). All-Star point guard Darius Garland has missed the past two with a left thigh contusion but will play. The Cavs have made at least 10 3-pointers in a team-record 63 straight games, which is the third-longest streak of double-digit makes in league history. The over is 5-2 in Cleveland’s past seven games.

Boston Celtics

Boston had a six-game winning streak snapped Wednesday in a 117-97 loss in Detroit, but you could almost see that coming as the Celtics were in the second of a back-to-back and without All-Star Jaylen Brown, who should play Friday. Boston is on pace to set numerous franchise and NBA records for 3-pointers and made 11 of them on 16 attempts in the second quarter Wednesday. That’s one shy of the NBA mark shared by Boston from when it hit 12 3-pointers in the second quarter against the Clippers on Nov. 25. Of the 35 points scored in that second quarter in Detroit, 33 were from deep — a rate of 94.3 per cent. It marked the first time in league annals that a team scored more than 90 per cent of its points in a quarter from 3-point range (minimum 30 points scored). It was only the fifth time this season Boston was held under 100 points. This starts a season-long seven-game homestand. The Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their past seven overall.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Cavaliers vs. Celtics?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Cavaliers Team Leaders

CLE

Points	Donovan Mitchell 23.96
Assists	Darius Garland 6.75
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 9.73
FG%	Jarrett Allen 70.6
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 1.34
Blocks	Evan Mobley 1.59

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.83
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.99
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.65
FG%	Luke Kornet 66.8
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.16
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.5

CLE

Points	Donovan Mitchell 30
Assists	Darius Garland 5
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 11
FG%	Ty Jerome 66.7
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 4
Blocks	Sam Merrill 2

BOS

Points	Derrick White 30
Assists	Jrue Holiday 5
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 14
FG%	Luke Kornet 100
Steals	Kristaps Porzingis 4
Blocks	Derrick White 2

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

CLE

Points	Donovan Mitchell 23.96
Assists	Darius Garland 6.75
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 9.73
FG%	Jarrett Allen 70.6
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 1.34
Blocks	Evan Mobley 1.59

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.83
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.99
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.65
FG%	Luke Kornet 66.8
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.16
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.5

CLE

Points	Donovan Mitchell 30
Assists	Darius Garland 5
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 11
FG%	Ty Jerome 66.7
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 4
Blocks	Sam Merrill 2

BOS

Points	Derrick White 30
Assists	Jrue Holiday 5
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 14
FG%	Luke Kornet 100
Steals	Kristaps Porzingis 4
Blocks	Derrick White 2

Injuries

Cleveland

Max Strus (PG)

Questionable Knee - 12 / 04 / 25

Ty Jerome (SG)

Questionable Knee - 11 / 04 / 25

Max Strus (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 09 / 04 / 25

Craig Porter Jr. (PG)

Ques Thurs Illness - 08 / 04 / 25

Dean Wade (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 02 / 04 / 25

Ty Jerome (SG)

Out indefinitely Knee - 26 / 03 / 25

Jaylon Tyson (SG)

Out indefinitely Knee - 21 / 03 / 25

De'Andre Hunter (PF)

Prob Fri Illness - 11 / 03 / 25

Jarrett Allen (C)

Ques Sun Hand - 22 / 02 / 25

Ty Jerome (SG)

Ques Thurs Calf - 11 / 02 / 25

Boston

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 12 / 04 / 25

Al Horford (C)

Ques Sun Knee - 12 / 04 / 25

Derrick White (PG)

Ques Sun Neck - 12 / 04 / 25

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Ques Fri Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 25

Al Horford (C)

Ques Fri Knee - 09 / 04 / 25

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Ques Fri Illness - 09 / 04 / 25

Derrick White (PG)

Ques Fri Ankle - 09 / 04 / 25

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Ques Tues Face - 05 / 04 / 25

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Ques Fri Shoulder - 01 / 04 / 25

Al Horford (C)

Ques Fri Toe - 01 / 04 / 25

Injuries

Cleveland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Max Strus (PG)	Questionable	Knee - 12 / 04 / 25	2-1	2-1	+ -
Strus is battling with a right knee injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up for the Playoff games.
Ty Jerome (SG)	Questionable	Knee - 11 / 04 / 25	3-1	2-2	+ -
Jerome is managing a left knee injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up for the Playoff games.
Max Strus (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 09 / 04 / 25	4-1	3-2	+ -
Strus missed the previous game due to a knee injury, and it has not yet been established if he will play against the Knicks on Friday.
Craig Porter Jr. (PG)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 08 / 04 / 25	4-2	3-3	+ -
Porter Jr. has been sidelined from the lineup due to an illness, and it is unknown if he will face Indiana on Thursday.
Dean Wade (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 02 / 04 / 25	5-4	4-5	+ -
Harris is dealing with an Achilles injury, but he is likely to play against the Kings on Sunday.
Ty Jerome (SG)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 26 / 03 / 25	7-6	7-6	+ -
Jerome is out of commission due to a left knee soreness, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.
Jaylon Tyson (SG)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 21 / 03 / 25	7-8	9-6	+ -
Tyson has been sidelined due to a left knee soreness, and he will miss an extended period.
De'Andre Hunter (PF)	Prob Fri	Illness - 11 / 03 / 25	9-11	11-9	+ -
Hunter is ailing with an illness, but he is expected to play against the Grizzlies on Friday.
Jarrett Allen (C)	Ques Sun	Hand - 22 / 02 / 25	13-14	16-12	+ -
Allen suffered a hand injury, and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Ty Jerome (SG)	Ques Thurs	Calf - 11 / 02 / 25	16-14	18-13	+ -
Jerome is bothered by a right calf soreness, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against the Nets on Thursday.

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 12 / 04 / 25	2-1	1-2	+ -
Holiday is managing a right shoulder impingement, and it is unclear if he will be ready for the Playoff first round against the Magic on Sunday.
Al Horford (C)	Ques Sun	Knee - 12 / 04 / 25	2-1	1-2	+ -
Horford is managing a right knee sprain, and it is undetermined if he will be ready for the Playoff first round against the Magic on Sunday.
Derrick White (PG)	Ques Sun	Neck - 12 / 04 / 25	2-1	1-2	+ -
White is nursing a right neck sprain, and it is unknown if he will be ready for the Playoff first round against the Magic on Sunday.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Ques Fri	Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
Holiday is managing a right shoulder injury and it is unclear if he will be available for Friday's game against the Hornets.
Al Horford (C)	Ques Fri	Knee - 09 / 04 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
Horford is battling with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Hornets on Friday.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Ques Fri	Illness - 09 / 04 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
Porzingis is ailing from illness, and it is uncertain if he will suit up against the Hornets on Friday.
Derrick White (PG)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 09 / 04 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
White is battling with ankle injury, and it is unclear if he will return back to action for Friday's game against the Hornets.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Ques Tues	Face - 05 / 04 / 25	4-3	2-5	+ -
Porzingis exited the game due to a facial injury, and it is unknown if he will play Tuesday's game against the Knicks.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Ques Fri	Shoulder - 01 / 04 / 25	5-4	3-6	+ -
Holiday is hampered by a right shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will take the court against the Suns on Friday.
Al Horford (C)	Ques Fri	Toe - 01 / 04 / 25	5-4	3-6	+ -
Horford is bothered by a left big toe sprain, and status for Friday's game versus the Suns is unknown.