NBA Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nov. 19, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers (15-0) and Boston Celtics (11-3) will battle in Group Play for the NBA Cup on Tuesday, November 19 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts at 7:00 PM ET. The Celtics are favored with a point spread at -5.5 (-105).

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview

The Cavaliers have yet to suffer defeat in 15 games so far to start the season. In their previous win, they beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-114 without Donovan Mitchell. This also marked their second consecutive win with 120 points or more.

Darius Garland led them with 25 points and he nailed all nine of his free throws. He also led the team with 12 assists, making him a crucial factor in their overall performance.

They had a great offensive outburst here, as they shot 57.1 percent from the field and 43.3 percent points from beyond the arc. Surprisingly, they did not lose this game despite having 20 turnovers compared to the Hornets’ 10.

The Cavs ranked first in the league with averaging 123.7 points a game. Defensively, they held opponents to 111.4 points, which ranked them 10th. This is a comfortable spread here. 

Boston Celtics Betting Preview

The Celtics have found the winning side in their last two games. They recently defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-123 in overtime, where Jayson Tatum hit a three pointer to end it.

Tatum led with 11 rebounds and nine assists, while Jaylen Brown led in scoring with 27 points. This dynamic duo continues to be a problem for many teams in the league to try and stop.

They shot slightly below what the Raptors contributed to the game, which is at 44.4 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from deep. Both teams had nine turnovers, which is interesting to see that since a lot of teams do not take care of the ball well.

The Celtics are right behind the Cavs in points scored per game at 121.6 (ranked second). On defense they have done a great job at limiting opponents to 111.4 points a game and ranking 11th. This is a healthy ratio between the two averages.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

NBA betting odds can be found through MyBookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics matchup, which slightly favors the Celtics by 5.5 points. Looking at market analysis, it shows the Celtics have a 58.5 percent likelihood of winning.

This will likely come down to the final few minutes of the fourth quarter, as both teams are evenly matched. The Cavs are at their best with Mitchell in the lineup, but he might not be available as he could be out for rest. Overall, the Celtics have most of their core roster and need to make a statement early.

Final Pick: Boston Celtics -5.5 (-105)