The Boston Celtics are crushing every game since that embarrassing loss to the Miami Heat in the first round. Will that trend continue this Friday in the second game of their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Or, will the Cavs stun Boston before flying home for Games 3 and 4?

Catch this game live on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 7:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Darius Garland
  • Donovan Mitchell
  • Max Strus
  • Evan Mobley
  • Jarrett Allen (Questionable)

Donovan Mitchell can’t do it all for the Cavs. Despite Mitchell scoring 33 points in the series opener, the Celtic still blew Cleveland out of the water, 120-95. Darius Garland, who was supposed to be the Robin to Mitchell’s Batman, has struggled anew. He only had 14 points on 6/14 shooting in Game 1. 

Over his last two games, Mitchell has shot just 9/28 from the floor and 3/12 from deep. Jarrett Allen could have provided much-needed help for Cleveland, but he’s been missing in action of late with an injury. He can be considered questionable to play in Game 2 with a rib injury. As bad as it looked for the Cavs in Game 1, it’s still too early for them to surrender. They have been a resilient team all season long, as evidenced by the fact that they are 24-13 this season in games after a loss.

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Home: Boston Celtics (1-0)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jrue Holiday
  • Derrick White
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Al Horford

Kristaps Porzingis is still out, but the Celtics are still operating like a death machine. For the fourth time in a row, the Celtics have won by at least 12 points. That Game 2 loss in the first round to the Miami Heat now feels like fiction. During their current win streak, the Celtics have averaged 111.0 points, while allowing only 87.8 points.  They have also limited their opponents to just 41.2 percent shooting from the field in that stretch. 

And it’s not even Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown leading Boston in scoring in that span. It’s Derrick White doing most of the heavy lifting in that area, as he’s averaged 26.0 points on an incredible 56.5 FG% and 50 3FG% through that window. Even if he goes cold eventually, the Celtics have plenty of guns to soften that kind of impact with Tatum, Brown, and Holiday still around. The Celtics will enter Game 3 with a  4-1-1 record against the spread in their last six home games.

Picks

Spread: Boston Celtics (-13.0)

Over/Under: Under (212.0)

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