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- What: Eastern Conference Semifinals
- Who: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- When: Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
- How to Watch: ESPN and TNT
This time of the year, there are some incredible postseason showdowns being recorded for the NBA. Eight teams are still in the hunt to try and win it all and things are getting quite exciting in the Eastern Conference. On one side, the Indiana Pacers are hoping to take down the New York Knicks, while Boston figures to cruise to a series win over the Cavaliers. With that said, the Celtics are expected to take down Cleveland in Game 2 of their series. Which side will come out on top?
Both teams have been playing some great hoops of late, which only makes this matchup even more exciting. Cleveland was able to post an exciting series win over Orlando, setting up this dance with Boston. Luckily for the Celtics, they have the home-court advantage and the fans are expected to make a massive difference for the first two games of the series. Everyone knows how passionate people in Boston can be and they’ll be even more excited if Kristaps Porzingis can suit up soon.
| Celtics vs Cavs Game 2 |  |  |  |
| Celtics to win | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Cavs to win | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Over 196 points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 196 points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
“He seemed to be walking a little bit better,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “The thing about KP, he puts the time in. So, a guy like him, every single day he knows exactly what he has to do and he always puts the work in to be ready whether he’s playing or whether he’s coming back from an injury. I just saw him walking a little bit better, but I trust his work ethic and I know he’s doing everything he can to get back as fast as he can.”
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, the Celtics hold -110 NBA betting odds to come out on top Thursday night, while the Cavs hold +125 NBA playoffs betting odds. We have a feeling this game is going to be a lot closer than some people might think, but in the end, we have a feeling the Celtics will get things done. We’re no question going with Boston in this one.
something about this feels familiar… pic.twitter.com/OCV8IfST12
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 6, 2024
How many games will the Celtics-Cavs series last?
So, how many games will the Celtics-Cavs series last? As we mentioned above, we think the Celtics will take care of business in Game 2. While we don’t think Cleveland is going to get swept, we do think Boston is going to be able to make light work of things when it’s all said and done. No disrespect to Cleveland, but with the way Boston has looked over the past few months, we just don’t think they’ll be able to make this a dogfight.
We don’t have to tell you, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been downright sensational this season and they were the main reason why Boston earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. With the way these two are looking, we think that they’ll be able to push Boston past Cleveland to potentially set up a showdown with the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Donovan Mitchell is hoping that won’t happen, though.
Jaylen Brown on his friendship with Donovan Mitchell: “Ain’t no friends in the playoffs.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 6, 2024
“I stopped talking to them when there was a possibility we were going to play them,” the Cavs All-Star said about playing Boston. “But it’s all competition and I expect nothing but the best from them and vice versa. We’ve got to go out there and take care of business in a hostile environment, but it’s always great to play against friends, compete against friends, and I know it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be fun, and I’m excited.”
Per the oddsmakers, this series has -110 NBA betting odds to last five games. That’s where the over/under has been set. We think the Cavs will find a way to post a win in one of the games, but after that, we also think the Celtics will be able to do what’s needed to move on. Again, the Cavs feature a lot of young talent, but they won’t have what it takes to push Boston to the limits. We’re going with Boston to shut things down here by Game 5.
The Celtics continue to hold the No. 1 Finals odds
To no surprise, the Celtics continue to hold the No. 1 Finals odds. While teams like the Knicks and even the Timberwolves have raised their stock, everyone is chasing Boston. During the regular season, they were the top team out there and nothing has changed in that department. Could this be the season where the Celtics reclaim the title?
That’s what a lot of folks think is going to happen and the oddsmakers are backing that notion. Boston holds +120 NBA Finals betting odds, which tells you how dominant they’ve been. Tatum and Brown are playing on a different level this spring and more of the same will be on the way soon. If we had to pick a squad to win the title, we’d no doubt be ready to go with the Celtics. They’ve just been way too good.
