Mid-December brings us another exciting clash in Eastern Conference basketball as the Cleveland Cavaliers go head-to-head with the Boston Celtics.
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Mid-December brings us another exciting clash in Eastern Conference basketball as the Cleveland Cavaliers (13-9, 9-11-2 ATS) go head-to-head with the Boston Celtics (16-5, 9-10-2 ATS). Keep in mind that the Cavaliers were on the court in Orlando the previous night (Note: Details for the Cleveland/Orlando game were pending at the time of publishing this preview).
Cleveland secured a victory in their recent away game against Miami with a final score of 111-99, comfortably covering the 1.5-point spread as the favored team. Meanwhile, Boston is riding the momentum from a 133-123 triumph on their home turf against the Knicks, also covering the 7.5-point spread as favorites. This encounter marks the initial showdown of the three-game series scheduled between these two teams for the season.
Positioned at the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers aim to carry forward the momentum they’ve built during their recent series of games. The Boston Celtics are set for their next quartet of games on their home turf, but interestingly, they’ll face off against just two different opponents. They’ll square off against Cleveland in the upcoming pair of matches, and afterward, they’re slated for two more encounters against Orlando.
For the Cavaliers, Jerome (ankle injury), LeVert (knee injury), Mobley (knee injury), and Rubio (personal reasons) will not be playing the game. However, there are no injuries reported from the Celtics, and all players will be available to play the game.
The Cavaliers are riding high with victories in five of their last six games, consistently being tagged as favorites in each contest. Their lone defeat came at the hands of Portland, but they swiftly rebounded with three consecutive wins. Donovan Mitchell has been on fire recently, spearheading the team in scoring in the last two games with an impressive 35 against Orlando and 27 against Miami. This marks the kickoff of back-to-back games between the Cavaliers and Celtics, and both matchups are set to unfold in Boston.
At the forefront of Cleveland’s scoring is Donovan Mitchell, lighting up the scoreboard with an average of 27.6 points per game. Mitchell is not just a scoring machine; he also excels as the team’s premier perimeter defender, snagging 1.9 steals per game. Contributing across the board, Mitchell boasts 5.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, showcasing his all-around skills.
The Celtics are eyeing a perfect 4-0 record against their less formidable Eastern Conference rivals, kicking off with the initial showdown on Tuesday. Riding high with victories in four of their last five games, they enter this stretch following a convincing 10-point win against the Knicks. In their recent clash with New York, each Boston starter notched at least 16 points, with Derrick White leading the charge with an impressive 30-point performance in the victory.
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