NBA Preview: Battle in Boston as the Celtics and Cavs shoot for the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Cavaliers (50-27) at Boston Celtics (50-27), 8 p.m. EST
Line: Celtics -4. Total 219.5.
LeBron James says he is not interested in the hype surrounding tonight’s game at TD Garden in Boston. Isaiah Thomas says he and his Celtics’ teammates want to win this game. “Why not win the #1 seed?” he asked a reporter after his Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 110-94 at Madison Square Garden during a Sunday matinee game.
James says he does not care too much about regular season games since he has been to the NBA Finals six consecutive seasons. He indicates that he is not too concerned about getting the #1 seed in the East. However, I am guessing he will care once the game starts and the competitive juices start flowing.
Cleveland has the tiebreaker edge over the Celtics. The Cavaliers have a 2-1 edge in their head-to-head meetings this season. The Cavs also own a 34-13 conference record, while Boston’s conference record is 33-14. Cleveland also owns the next tiebreaker, which is best record against playoff teams in your own conference.
If Cleveland wins tonight, they can afford to lose one of their remaining three games and still win the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. If Boston wins, they still have to sweep their remaining four games to clinch the #1 seed if Cleveland wins out.
The home team has won every game in this season series. Cleveland won the first two games, each by 6 points. Boston won the last game exactly five weeks ago by 4 points. I expect tonight’s game to be close, too.
Kyle Korver is expected to play tonight for Cleveland. However, Tristan Thompson, their leading rebounder at 9.3 rebounds per game, will sit with a right-thumb sprain. For the Celtics, Avery Bradley is listed as probable after missing the last 2 games due to an illness. Jae Crowder is listed as questionable with a sore left elbow.
Kevin Love did not play in the loss at Boston. Love averaged 28 points and 11.5 rebounds in the 2 games he did play against the Celtics at Cleveland. LeBron has averaged almost a triple-double against Boston in his 3 games this season. James has an average of 27 points, 11 assists and 9.3 rebounds per game. LeBron did have a triple-double in Boston. Kyrie Irving has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists per game.
For the Celtics, Thomas has averaged 30.7 points and 6.7 assists per game against the Cavaliers this season. Avery Bradley has averaged 20 points and 5 rebounds per game and played excellent defense on Irving during the game at Boston as Kyrie only had one assist during that game.
Cleveland is 10-11 straight up and 7-13-1 ATS (Against The Spread) their last 21 games. Boston is 10-3, straight up but just 6-7 ATS their last 13 games.
I have a small lean for Cleveland to cover the 4 points.
Golden State Warriors (64-14) at Phoenix Suns (22-56), 10 p.m. EST
Line: Rockets -9.5. Total 223.5.
The Vegas total is skyrocketing for this game as it has gone up 3.5 points in the last three hours. There is a good reason though.
Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are going to sit out this game as Coach Steve Kerr is resting them. Green is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and Iguodala is also a very good defender.
Golden State has a “Quasi-chart play” to the over tonight. The Quasi-chart play is similar to the chart-play, except this play contains a group of outcomes that are not a streak, but rather a range of plays going mostly in one direction before it turns and starts going in the other direction.
The Warriors had gone 15-1-1 to the under during a 17-game stretch before going over 3 out of their last 4 games. After 17 games where 15 went under and 1 pushed the total, we have seen a small reversal the last 4 games with 3 of them going over. So there is enough evidence for more overs to hit.
Golden State needs two more wins to clinch the #1 overall seed for the playoffs. Kevin Durant will return to their lineup on Saturday as the Warriors will have three games to get him and their lineup rotations ready for the playoffs.
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