The top two teams in the Eastern Conference meet Tuesday night as the Boston Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Cleveland leads the conference at 40-9, while Boston trails by 5.5 games at 35-15. This will be their third meeting of the season, with each team winning once. Cleveland took the last matchup at home, 115-111, on December 1.
Both teams enter this game after big wins on Sunday. Boston erased a 26-point deficit to defeat Philadelphia 118-110, tying the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Cleveland, meanwhile, set a franchise record with 26 made threes in a dominant 144-101 win over Dallas.
Celtics Preview – Can Boston Keep Up the Momentum?
The Celtics have won three straight and are coming off a dramatic comeback win over the 76ers. Jayson Tatum led the way with 35 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 21 points and 10 boards. Boston outscored Philadelphia 54-30 in the second half.
Boston remains one of the league’s top offensive teams, ranking first in made three-pointers per game (17.8). They also have the league’s best road record at 19-6. Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White continue to be key contributors, giving the Celtics strong depth.
Defensively, Boston will need to slow down Cleveland’s perimeter shooting. The Cavaliers lead the NBA in three-point percentage (39.6%) and have been red-hot from deep in recent games.
Cavaliers Preview – Will Cleveland’s Shooting Stay Hot?
Cleveland has won four straight and remains dominant at home with a 24-3 record. The Cavaliers exploded offensively in their last game, hitting 26 three-pointers and scoring 91 first-half points against Dallas. Sam Merrill broke out of a slump by making nine threes, while Evan Mobley posted 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 27.5 points per game. Darius Garland also played well against Dallas, dishing out 10 assists to go with 17 points. The Cavaliers have made at least 10 three-pointers in 54 straight games, putting them in elite company.
Defensively, Cleveland has been solid, ranking 10th in the NBA in points allowed per game (111.8). Slowing down Boston’s three-point shooting will be crucial, as the Celtics attempt more threes than any team in the league.
Betting Prediction
Cleveland is a slight favorite at -1.5, with a total set at 237.5. Both teams are among the best in the league, making this a tough matchup to predict. The Cavaliers have been nearly unbeatable at home, but Boston has played well on the road and is coming off an emotional comeback win.
This game will likely be decided by three-point shooting. Cleveland has been on fire from deep, but Boston has been more consistent throughout the season. Expect a close battle, with the Celtics keeping it tight enough to cover the spread.
Pick: Celtics +1.5
