Boston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Boston (11-3) take on Cleveland Cavaliers (15-0) in a battle of the Eastern Conference's top two, a clash the Celtics won when these sides met in the playoffs in May.

Boston won that series 4-1 and went on to take the title, but the Cavs have started the season in real style and are just the fourth team in history to have won their opening 15 games.

Boston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers prop bets - tips and predictions

Jayson Tatum Over 3.5 Threes Made - 5/7

The Cavaliers are the best team in the league so far - there's nothing ambiguous about a 15-0 start.

However, the Celtics are the best team in the league. Period.

They proved that in some style in the playoffs and are 13/5 to repeat. Their 12-3 start isn't exceptional, but the team is and this is the game where they prove it.

The top two in the East are also the NBA's top offenses, so expect something explosive at the TD Garden where flaws in both defences may well be exposed.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla insists his team needs to rebound better and is coughing up too many second bites, while Cleveland are struggling to convince defending the three-point line.

That could be the critical denominator against a team packed with shooters and seriously accurate from range.

No team has made more three-pointers than the Celtics this season, with Jayson Tatum leading the way. He's making 4.2 per game from 11.1 attempts and the big games invite the big players to deliver. And Tatum has that knack of delivering.

He's in for 3.5 threes made in over/under betting and take the 5/7 he flies past that mark.

Darius Garland Over 2.5 Rebounds - 4/6

The price has moved on Darius Garland's rebounds made and rightly so because he looks nailed on for three or more.

The All-Star point guard will be one of the smallest men on court in Boston, but his record at picking up rebounds is there for all to see.

Last season he averaged 2.7 boards per game and 3.6 in the playoffs. This season he is bringing in 2.4, but against a team who will shoot for fun and isn't rebounding as well as their coach would hope, Garland can snaffle the scraps.

Boston Over 29.5 First Quarter Points - 10/13

Back Boston to get off to a quick start and post some big numbers in the first quarter.

Cleveland give up more three-pointers in the first quarter of games than any other and concede an average 28 points - and that's against lesser teams.

Against Boston, the second best offence behind themselves, they know the shots will be coming in from all zones.

If the Celtics find their range, then a team which averages 32.8 first-quarter points can go over 29.5 at 10/13.

Celtics -4.5 Spread - 20/21

Talk of Cleveland challenging Golden State's 24-0 start of 2015/16 is premature.

You can't argue with what Kenny Atkinson's team has done to date, with Donovan Mitchell leading a team with No.2 seeding aspirations.

They're No.2 because No.1 belongs to Boston.

The 11-3 Celtics have done little wrong so far and will relish this opportunity to dismantle a Cleveland team they put to bed neatly in the playoffs back in the spring.

The Cavs are the real deal but Boston are the NBA champions and will illustrate why by covering the 4.5 point spread.

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Boston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers money line, spread, over/under

	Money Line	Spread	Over/Under
Celtics	10/19	-4.5 - 20/21	Under 235.0 - 10/11
Cavaliers	8/5	+4.5 - 20/23	Over 235.0 - 10/11

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.