NBA Eastern Conference Game 4: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics

Kyrie Irving shot just 3 of 11 from the floor in Game 3, but Cleveland still went up 3 games to 0.
Kyrie Irving shot just 3 of 11 from the floor in Game 3, but Cleveland still went up 3 games to 0.

Cleveland at Boston
Time: Noon CST
TV: ABC
Spread: CLE -7.5
Total: 204

Betting odds c/o Bovada

The Cavs have reeled off three straight wins and will have a chance to close it out on the road. NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Cavs by 7.5 points in NBA Live Lines, as the Boston Celtics look to win its first postseason game.

The total is set at 204, and for an explanation of how to bet these odds see our NBA odds explained.

The Cavs won game 2 99-91 in a game that was close the entire way. The Celtics got 22 off the bench from sixth man Isaiah Thomas, who hit 6 of 14 from the floor and a perfect 10 of 10 from the stripe, while also dishing out seven assists. Aside from Thomas, the C’s put four other players in double figures, including Jared Sullinger’s 14 off the bench. The Celtics got 51 points from its bench, which was 11 more than its starting five produced. Brandon Bass had an off game, missing all six looks, including three at the rim.

The Cavs were able to milk big games out of its two main stars Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. James led Cavs scorers with 30, while falling just one rebound and three assists shy of a triple double. James had six turnovers and the Cavs committed 18 miscues in the game, but the defense was on point, holding the Celtics to 38.8 percent shooting and allowing just six threes (in 22 attempts no less).

The Cavaliers got solid production from Timofey Mozgov, but Kevin Love’s inconsistency reared its ugly head again: After a big Game 1 double double he shot just 3 of 8 from the floor for 13 points while missing four of his five threes and snagging just six boards in the game. Love had two of the starting front court’s nine blocks, but it was Mozgov who had five rejections and changed a multitude of Irving looks at the rim, forcing misses.

The Cavs are going to need more from Love in upcoming rounds but are far better than Boston, so his struggles can be endured in this opening round. James and Irving are almost givens when it comes to having big games, but Love has looked like a shadow of the offensive beast he was while with Minnesota. “Timberwolves Love” would never quietly take just eight shots and passively stand around on the offensive end, so it’s tough to say what can light a fire under Love before it is too late.

Tristan Thompson did not attempt a single field goal in 26 minutes of play either, even despite having five offensive rebounds. With Love and Thompson not producing, the Cavs will have a lot of trouble defeating the Bulls and Hawks, while Washington or Toronto also sports an outside chance.

Granted the Cavs achieved the No. 2 spot in the postseason behind an entire mediocre season from Love, but the Hawks spread their offense evenly and are efficient enough to get good shots even with Mozgov clogging the paint and James roaming defensively.

In Game 3 LeBron James hit 13 of 26 from the floor en route to 31 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Kevin Love stepped up to hit 8 of 16 from the floor, including six threes, nine rebounds and trio of assists. Kyrie Irving had an off night, hitting just 3 of 11 from the floor, but it scarcely mattered with James and Love playing top notch ball.

It’s pretty certain that of Irving, Love and James, two are bound to have big games, and that’s enough to lead to comfortable cushions against the Celtics. The Cavaliers may even be able to get through the entire East without its top trio clicking in precision. That is mostly because James is the league’s premier talent, and the Cavaliers reversal of fortune perfectly illustrates James’ effect on a team. Expect the Cavs to close this one out, and given James desire for punctuation the 7.5 point spread may seem deceiving. Even so, 54 percent of bettors were betting the Celtics to cover the spread per covers.

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