CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS. BOSTON CELTICS EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTIONS — February 4, 2025

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS. BOSTON CELTICS EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTIONS — February 4, 2025 — Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Godzilla Wins. One of the games on tap from today’s slate features the Cleveland Cavaliers (40-9 SU, 33-16 ATS) hosting the Boston Celtics (35-15 SU, 20-30 ATS).

Here is a look at which squad has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

When: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 7:30 PM ET

Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH

TV: TNT, truTV,  MAX, and NBCS-BOS

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics — Preview & Betting Trends

Cavaliers Look To Build On Dominant Win Over Mavericks

After a mini-slump in which they dropped three consecutive contests, the Cavaliers have responded with victories in their last four outings. This includes a 144-101 over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Sam Merrill led the team with 27 points off the bench, with all of his buckets coming from 3-point range.

Evan Mobley added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Darius Garland also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists. Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively. This game outcome was decided early on as the Cavaliers scored 50 points in the opening stanza and led 91-46 at the break.

The Cavs were dominant in nearly every phase of that contest. They recorded 39 assists on 53 made field goals and outscored Dallas by a 78-27 margin from beyond the arc. Furthermore, Cleveland enjoyed a 33-11 advantage in fast-break points in a game where they shot 57 percent overall and 57.8 percent from distance.

Boston Seeking Its Fourth Straight Win

On the other side of this matchup, after a 114-112 setback against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 27, the defending champs have posted victories in their past three outings, including a wild 118-110 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jayson Tatum was nothing short of spectacular. He scored a team-high 35 points, along with 11 assists and seven rebounds on 13-for-20 shooting from the field.

Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points, 10 boards, and six dimes. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 17 points and nine assists.

The Celtics trimmed what was a 26-point deficit down to 14 points heading into the fourth quarter. And in the final frame, they outscored the Sixers by a decisive 38-16 margin en route to an eight-point victory, stunning the home crowd in the process.

Now that we have set the stage for this epic Eastern Conference showdown let’s examine the betting trends for both teams.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics Spread Analysis

Despite posting wins in their last four outings, the Cavaliers enter this conference tilt as a slight 1.5-point favorite (per OddsShark.com). Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season.

• The Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
• Cleveland is 1-7 ATS in its previous eight February contests
• Cleveland has covered the spread seven times in its last 10 matchups against Boston.
• Meanwhile, the Celtics are 2-5 ATS in their previous seven outings.
• Boston is 1-5 ATS in its last six matchups against Cleveland.
• The Celtics are 4-1-1 against the spread in their previous six February outings.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (+1.5)

Cavaliers vs. Celtics Over/Under Prediction

The projected scoring total for this matchup is 235 points (via OddsShark.com). Let’s see why going with the “over” is the smart play.

• The total has gone OVER five times in the Cavaliers’ last six games.
• The OVER total is 4-1 in Cleveland’s previous five matchups against Atlantic Division opponents.
• In the Cavaliers’ last seven Tuesday games, the OVER total has cashed in six times.
• The total has gone OVER four times in the Celtics’ previous five outings.

Prediction: OVER 235 points

Cavaliers vs. Celtics Player Prop Bet

Mitchell is the key player to watch for the home team in this matchup, as he leads the team in scoring and steals. He currently has -115 odds of scoring more than 25.5 points and -115 odds of finishing with less than 25.5 points (via DraftKings.com).

Here is a look at how his numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup.

• During the season, Mitchell is averaging 23.7 points per game.
• In two matchups against Boston this season, Mitchell has compiled averages of 35.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest on shooting splits of .500/.409/.688.
• Mitchell has suited up in 25 home games this season. In those contests, he averages 22.3 points per contest.
• Across his last five starts, Mitchell has put up 29.8 points per game, exceeding the point total for this matchup three times during that stretch.

Prediction: Donovan Mitchell OVER 25.5 points