Both these teams experienced different trajectories to survive the first round of the playoffs. Boston will come into this first match well rested after they dispatched the Miami Heat in five games last Wednesday. Cleveland just finished a drawn out seven-game marathon versus the Orlando Magic. That said, key injuries to both teams add intrigue to this matchup. Details below.

The NBA Playoff odds have full confidence in the Celtics for Game 1, pegging them as -11.5 favourites.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds

There is a decent amount of playoff history from the past 10 to 15 years between Cleveland and Boston, although a lot of that was during LeBron James’ two stints with his home state club. As one can imagine, this year’s Cavs team has nothing to do with the even the most recent version that made it to the NBA Finals in 2018.

Funnily enough, this won’t be the first time Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown face Cleveland in the post-season. Flash back to the 2016-2017 campaign when the young, unknown duo brought the Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to…King James and the Cavs.

This season Boston took two of three from Cleveland. That said, nobody remembers Boston two victories. In contrast, Cleveland’s conquest however featured a mesmeric 22- point fourth quarter comeback.

For the series, the Celtics are massive favourties (-1428), but if one wants to have some fun the Cavaliers are +800 to win. The most likely outcome is Boston in five (+170). Boston in six is an interesting +425. One should look at the odds of Cleveland winning in a specific number of games for themselves. It’s quite something. As a primer, the Cavaliers in seven is +2500.

Cleveland Cavaliers

There are two ways to look at how Cleveland got here. One, they took too much time doing away from a side many predicted they would eliminate in the first round anyways. Two, it was a four vs. five series, which in theory meant it was going to be close. Take your pick of which one fits your narrative.

The Magic had one of the better defences in the NBA this season, and given that the Cavaliers can be a bit hit or miss on the attack, it can’t be that surprising that Orlando gave them some trouble. Someone who excelled when it mattered most was Donovan Mitchell. His 50-burger in Game 6 wasn’t enough to finish the Magic, but he followed it up with a 39-point performance in Sunday’s Game 7. Darius Garland was good if not great in Round 1 (14.9 points per game).

Evan Mobley is going to have be huge – not just literally – against Boston because Jarret Allen is still listed as out with rib issues. That’s a massive drop in rebounding. Having Max Strus around will be critical. Strus is very familiar with the Celtics in the postseason from his time in Miami.

Boston Celtics

So the Boston Celtics finally crushed the Miami Heat. Truth be told, given that the latter were missing star Jimmy Butler, there wasn’t that much to celebrate. Just a done well done. A job that was expected of the Celtics, no less.

This will be different. For one, even if this Round 2 bout goes the distance, big man Kristaps Porzingis may not step on the court a single time. That’s not definitive, but his status for the second round doesn’t look bright. First, Porzingis was one of Boston’s big summer 2023 signings. Second, he is one of the reasons they were so good this season. A lot of responsibility goes to an aging Al Horford and mostly untested Luke Kornet, maybe even River Tillman. Tatum and Brown are expected to carry the Celtics through, but the task just grew in difficulty. Derrick White in playoff mode could be what ultimately wins the day.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Cavaliers vs. Celtics Game 1?

CAVALIERS

Away

100

CELTICS

Home

107

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