The Cleveland Cavaliers are staring playoff death in the face as they are just a loss against the Boston Celtics away from seeing their title hopes go up in flames. Will the Cavs live to fight for another game with a big upset at TD Garden this Thursday? Or, will the Celtics wrap things up?

Catch this game live on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 7:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-3)

Projected Starting Five:

• Darius Garland
• Donovan Mitchell (Questionable)
• Max Strus
• Isaac Okoro
• Evan Mobley

With their backs against the wall and with zero room for failure, the Cavs will look to extend their existence in the 2024 NBA Playoffs this Thursday. However, they might have to do battle with the powerful Celtics again without Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, who are both listed as questionable for Game 5 after they missed Game 4. Moreover, Caris LeVert is also listed as questionable with a knee issue. The hope is that at least Mitchell will be able to get a green signal for the game. 

With a banged-up roster and playing on the road in a do-or-die game versus the top overall seed in the playoffs, it’s hard to see Cleveland pulling off an upset. But if at least Mitchell gets a green light to go in Game 5, that would be a huge shot in the arm of the Cavs, who are averaging 102.0 points in the series. Boston can sometimes show up with a perplexingly poor performance despite a loaded roster, so that can also offer hope for Cleveland, which enters Game 5 with a 22-15-2 record this season against the spread in contests following a loss.

Home: Boston Celtics (3-1)

Projected Starting Five:

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

It is time for the Celtics to finish things off in the second round. They have the momentum and the homecourt advantage in Game 5. Outside of Kristaps Porzingis, no Celtic is dealing with a significant injury to warrant any injury label for Thursday’s contest. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are also in a groove after combining for 60 points in Game 4, Tatum and Brown will look to go full Jonathan Papelbon and complete the save in a closeout game for the Celtics. 

Brown is also feeling dangerous, saying that he doesn’t think anyone on the Cavs could slow him down. During the last two games in this series, Brown has scored a total of 75 points on 68.8 FG% while Tatum has racked up 66 points on 44 FG%.  And although Derrick White has cooled down of late, Jrue Holiday has picked things up, as he’s scored 34 points on 61.9 FG% since Game 3.

Picks

Spread: Boston Celtics (-14.5)

Over/Under: Under (204.0)