It’s been an interesting week for the Cleveland Cavaliers already. They knocked off the Golden State Warriors by a point on Christmas Day, but then lost to the Detroit Pistons the next day as LeBron James rested.
James should return for a matchup against the Boston Celtics on Thursday. Boston is trying to prove itself a worthy adversary in the Eastern Conference, but the Cavaliers should be able to flex their muscle and show there is no legitimate hurdle to another NBA Finals appearance.
At 8 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Quicken Loans Arena.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Cavaliers are 23-7 straight up and 15-14-1 against the spread this year. Cleveland is 10-7-1 while trying to cover at home this year and has been favored in all but four games on the season. The Cavaliers will certainly be giving points in this one and are 13-11-1 against the spread as the favorite.
The Celtics are 18-13 straight up as well as 18-13 against the spread this year. They have been fantastic against the spread on the road, covering in 14 of 19 games. The Celtics have been the underdog in nine games this season and have covered in four of those contests.
Player to Watch
LeBron James -- The Cavaliers’ superstar was given a day off against the Pistons in the Cavaliers’ most recent game to keep him fresh for the playoff run. It was the team’s fifth game in seven days and since James is among the league leaders in minutes played per game, coach Tyronn Lue wanted to give him a breather.
It was the third rest game for James this season, and that could be bad news for Boston. He should be fully rested physically and mentally ready for this game.
James is averaging 25.5 points, 8.6 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game, once again showing that he is the most dominant basketball player in the world. The Celtics will have no antidote as James should be in line for a huge game in this one.
Key Stat
27. That’s the number of points per game Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas is averaging this season. It’s a huge uptick compared to his career mark as Thomas has established himself as one of the elite scorers in the NBA despite his short stature.
Thomas had 44 points in a recent win over the Grizzlies and since the Celtics will be so outmanned in this one, one of their best chances to remain close will be if Thomas can get hot from the floor.
He is adding 6.2 assists per game and Thomas seems like he is well on his way to an All-Star appearance.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Celtics are in third place in the Eastern Conference and one of its better teams, but still don’t compare to the Cavs. Cleveland had a big-time home win over Golden State on Christmas, proving it is right in the mix for the NBA championship once again after winning last year’s title.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are both playing well, and Boston doesn’t have the pedigree to compete. The Celtics could very well finish in one of the top four seeds in the East and have a promising future, but the Cavaliers will be the favorites in this one at home.
Thomas’ shooting can help Boston stick around for awhile, but Cleveland shouldn’t have too much trouble closing this one out. The Cavaliers should have a full lineup in this one, and they have shown that this group can beat any and all comers at home this year.
NBA Odds: Cavaliers 105, Celtics 99
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
