After a grueling seven-game series against the feisty Toronto Raptors in the first round, the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers take on the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, starting tonight.
Both the Cavs and Pistons took their first round series to seven games, with the favorites both winning at home in Game 7. Cleveland bounced back from a gut-wrenching overtime loss in Game 6 that saw R.J. Barrett get a miracle bounce on a three to send the series to a win-or-go-home game.
The Cavs used a massive third quarter to pull away from Toronto in the second half, as Jarrett Allen put up 22 points and 19 rebounds and Donovan Mitchell also dropped 22 points of his own.
The Raptors team was full of lengthy forwards as Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Ja'Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, Jakob Poeltl, and Jamal Shead make it very difficult to score, and Cleveland will face a similar team in the Pistons.
Detroit's terrific defense, highlighted by Ausar Thompson, Javonte Green, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, and more, held Orlando to less than 100 points in four of the seven games - including 94 in Game 7.
While the Pistons were heavy favorites to win the series, their youth and inconsistent offensive play from Duren kept the more experienced Magic in it. Orlando even held a 3-1 series lead, but Detroit tightened up in games five through seven.
Tobias Harris scored 20+ in each of the final five games of the series, and Cade Cunningham scored 30+ in four of the seven games, providing most of the offense for Detroit.
It should be a terrific series between the offensive-minded Cavs and the defensive-minded Pistons. Before Game 1 starts tonight, let's take a look at the series odds and lines on bet365:
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons: Series Odds
To Win Series - Cavs vs. Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers | +105 |
Detroit Pistons | -125 |
Series Correct Score - Cavs vs. Pistons
CLE Cavaliers | DET Pistons | |
4-0 | +1100 | +1000 |
4-1 | +750 | +500 |
4-2 | +425 | +500 |
4-3 | +575 | +375 |
Series Total Games - Cavs vs. Pistons
Over | Under | |
4.5 | -900 | +600 |
5.5 | -185 | +155 |
6.5 | +195 | -240 |
Most Points in Series - Cavs vs. Pistons
Cade Cunningham | -200 |
Donovan Mitchell | +180 |
Tobias Harris | +2500 |
James Harden | +2800 |
Evan Mobley | +10000 |
Jalen Duren | +12500 |
To Win the NBA Championship
DET Pistons | +1600 |
CLE Cavaliers | +2000 |
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All odds written in this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
