Can Cavs Bounce Back in Boston? Celtics vs Cavaliers Prediction & AI Picks (May 13th)

The Boston Celtics dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102, putting them on the verge of a series sweep (3-1) in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 33 points and 13 rebounds, while Boston’s defense held Cleveland to a season-low 93 points. Looking ahead to Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction, the Celtics are favored by 8.5 points in Game 4, with a chance to close out the series on the road.
Looking ahead to the Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction, the Boston Celtics (2-0) are on the verge of a series sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-2) in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, following their commanding 106-93 victory in Game 2.
Boston in Control:
The Celtics dominated both offensively and defensively, covering the spread as 7.5-point favorites and holding the Cavaliers to a season-low 93 points. Jayson Tatum led the way with a 33-point, 13-rebound performance, while Boston’s defense limited Cleveland to just 12 made threes.
Betting Outlook:
With a strong record against the spread as favorites (45-37), Boston enters Game 3 favored by 8.5 points. Interestingly, despite their high-scoring season average (227.4 points per game), today’s over/under line is set at a lower 206 points.
Key Trends:
- The Celtics have seen the under hit in their last two games.
- The Cavaliers have a losing record against the spread overall (42-48) and at home (22-24).
Can the Cavs bounce back or will Boston claim the series sweep? See our full Celtics vs Cavaliers Prediction, AI picks, and more!
Celtics vs Cavaliers Game Information
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
Location of the Game: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland |
Date and Time: Monday, May 13th 7:00 ET |
Season: Regular |
How to watch: watchlivesports.co |
Celtics vs Cavaliers Odds
Next, we have the NBA odds for this NBA Matchup.
AI Predictions and SportsBettingAI Picks
These are the NBA Computer Picks for tonight’s NBA Schedule game:
TEAM | AI PICKS | SportBettingAI PICKS | |||
Celtics | 114 | 219 | BOS -8.5 | BOS -358 | OVER 206 |
Cavaliers | 105 |
- AI Picks: Boston Celtics 114 – Cleveland Cavaliers 105
- SBAI Picks: ATS Celtics -8.5 | ML Celtics -358 | OVER 206
Celtics: Scoring Machine Meets Defensive Wall
The Boston Celtics are a matchup nightmare for opponents, boasting both a high-octane offense and a lockdown defense. Here’s a quick look:
- Second in Scoring: The Celtics average a league-leading 120.6 points per game.
- Three-Point Kings: They lead the NBA in both three-point attempts (42.5 per game) and three-pointers made (16.5 per game).
- Dynamic Duo: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a dominant scoring tandem, averaging 26.9 and 23.0 points per game respectively. Brown has been especially hot lately, averaging 24.2 points on a sizzling 56.2% shooting from the field over his last five games.
- Defensive Powerhouse: Boston boasts the league’s 3rd best defense, allowing only 108.0 points per game. They’re even stingier on the road, ranking 3rd in points allowed away from home.
- Locking Down Opponents: NBA Teams struggle to score against the Celtics, who rank 3rd in both field goal percentage allowed and two-point shooting percentage allowed.
One Area for Improvement: While their overall defense is elite, the Celtics struggle to generate steals, ranking a lowly 28th in the league.
Free Throw Defense Champs: However, they excel at defending the free-throw line, leading the NBA in fewest free throws allowed per game.
Cavaliers: Elite Defense at Home
The Cleveland Cavaliers present an interesting matchup for the Boston Celtics. While their overall scoring is pedestrian (19th in the NBA), Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear lately, averaging a scorching 36.8 points per game over his last five outings.
Here’s a breakdown of Cleveland’s defensive strengths:
- Overall Field Goal Defense: Opponents shoot just 46.2% from the field against the Cavs (4th in the NBA).
- Recent Lockdown Defense: Over the last five games, they’ve held opponents to an even lower 42.9% shooting (3rd in the league).
- Interior Defense: Cleveland excels at defending inside the arc, ranking 4th in the NBA in two-point shooting percentage allowed.
- Three-Point Defense: While not elite, they limit opponents to the 10th fewest three-pointers made per game (12.4) and hold them to a respectable 36.5% shooting from deep (10th in the NBA).
Key Takeaway:
The Cavaliers present a challenge for the Celtics. While their offense can be inconsistent, Mitchell’s hot streak cannot be ignored. However, if Boston can neutralize Mitchell and exploit Garland’s recent struggles, their high-powered offense could overpower a stifling Cleveland defense, especially on the road.
Celtics vs Cavaliers Head-to-Head
Looking at recent history, the Cleveland Cavaliers might have a slight edge over the Boston Celtics in their upcoming matchup. Here’s a breakdown for the Celtics vs Cavaliers Matchup:
- Head-to-Head Record: Over the last 10 meetings, the Cavaliers have a better record against the spread (ATS) at 6-3-1 according to the NBA Standings.
- Close Games: The last three times the Celtics were favored against Cleveland, the games were decided by one possession, with a 2-1 record for Boston.
- Scoring Trends: The average combined NBA score in the last five matchups is 211 points, suggesting a possible high-scoring game. However, the “over/under” record leans towards unders (1-4) in these recent contests.
Will the Cavaliers continue their recent success against the Celtics? Or will Boston overpower Cleveland?
NBA Injury Report
According to the NBA injury report, we have the following NBA players out:
Boston Celtics | Injury | Status | Cleveland Cavaliers | Injury | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kristaps Porzingis | Calf | Out | Luke Kornet | Calf | Probable |
Jarrett Allen | Rib | Questionable | Donovan Mitchell | Calf | Questionable |
Ty Jerome | Ankle | Out | |||
Craig Porter Jr. | Ankle | Out |
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