After stunning the Celtics in Game 2, the Cavaliers are set up to take a major advantage in this series. That being said, Boston remains the outright favorite to win the Eastern Conference, and showed little trouble of bouncing back after their sole first-round defeat to Miami. Game 3’s result is crucial for the direction of this series.
Before Betting on Celtics vs Cavaliers
Despite Boston’s dominance over the Eastern Conference this season, they have been no stranger to fluke-like performances propping up. One of those games likely occurred in Game 2 against the Cavaliers. Boston lost 118-94, despite holding a 37-4 record at home. The absence of C Kristaps Porzingis certainly made a difference for the Celtics in their defeat.
Boston had a similar disappointment in Game 2 against Miami, but went on to win the next three games. It is very important that the Celtics bounce back in similar fashion in Game 3 of this series, after losing by a much larger margin. To do so, the starters will need to post a much better shooting performance. Tatum, Brown, White, and Holiday combined to go 19-52 (37%) from the field on Thursday.
The Cavaliers made a statement in Game 2 that they wouldn’t go down easy against the Celtics. The 118-94 victory was fueled by Cleveland’s capable defense and lit ablaze by an excellent shooting night. Donovan Mitchell finally got the support he needed, as all five starters reached double-digit scoring. The Cavs also got a great game from 6th-man Caris LeVert, who posted 21 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.
As they head back to Cleveland, the Cavaliers have one goal. They need to prove that Game 2 wasn’t a fluke night for Boston’s offense, but rather a result of Cleveland’s own excellent play. Anything notable on the tapes from Thursday the Cavaliers need to take advantage of on Saturday. Taking a 2-1 lead in this series would create a legitimate path for Cleveland to pull off the upset and make the ECF.
Celtics vs Cavaliers Offshore Odds
It’s almost a non-statement to say this game will be crucial, as all playoff games are. That being said, this game does hold extra weight as the one most likely to swing the series. If Cleveland can build on their success in Game 2 and claim a win at home on Saturday, the series odds will change significantly. On the other hand, if Boston bounces back in Game 3 like they did against Miami, they could be returning home in Game 5 with a chance to close the series out.
