NBA Game Preview (3/5/24) — Celtics vs. Cavaliers: Betting Odds & Starting Lineups

Written By Editorial Team on March 5, 2024 - Last Updated on March 11, 2024
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Celtics Vs. Cavaliers Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics will face off Tuesday night in a showdown between two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The game will air on TNT.

Celtics vs. Cavaliers pregame odds

The current sportsbook odds for tonight’s game are as follows:

  • DraftKings: Celtics -8, over/under 217.0
  • FanDuel: Celtics -8, over/under 217.0
  • Caesars: Celtics -8, over/under 217.0
  • BetMGM: Celtics -8.5, over/under 217.5

Odds are subject to change and vary between sportsbooks for the Celtics vs. Cavaliers.

Celtics vs. Cavaliers projected starting lineups

Celtics starting lineup

PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown (game-time decision)
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis (game-time decision)

Cavaliers starting lineup

PG: Darius Garland
SG: Isaac Okoro (game-time decision)
SF: Dean Wade
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen

Injuries

Donovan Mitchell is the big name who will be out versus Boston, due to a left knee contusion. He is scheduled to miss the next three games. Cleveland could be a bit thin in the backcourt, as Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro are both questionable for tonight’s game.

For Boston, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are listed as questionable. Brown’s injury is minor, but the team could err on the side of caution with both him and Porzingis as they travel to Denver.

Team standings & stats for tonight’s game

Celtics

The first-place Boston Celtics are 48-12 on the season and have won 11 games in a row. Last time out, they outscored the Golden State Warriors by more than 50 points, 140-88.

The Celtics dominated the game with a field goal percentage of 46.8% and a 3-point percentage of 26.5%. Jaylen Brown put up 29 points on 57.9% shooting, including a 5-of-10 mark from 3-point range. Despite losing to the Cavaliers, Boston remains the best team in the NBA. The Celtics are heavy favorites over the Portland Trail Blazers. Here are the team’s key stats for the season so far:

  • Points per game: 121.3 (1st)
  • Points allowed per game: 109.9 (4th)
  • Rebounds per game: 47.1 (1st)
  • Assists per game: 26.4 (16th)
  • FG%: 48.7 (9th)
  • 3PT%: 38.6 (4th) 

Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, are 39-21, good for third in the Eastern Conference. They lost their most recent game to the New York Knicks by a score of 107-98, giving them a record of 5-5 in their last 10. Despite being a home underdog, the Cavs pulled out the win over the Celtics. Now Cleveland hosts the Phoenix Suns as another home underdog.

The Cavaliers put up a strong performance against New York, with a field goal percentage of 48.8% and a 3-point percentage of 41.0%. Darius Garland scored 19 points on 50% shooting, including five of eight from beyond the arc. Sam Merrill added 21 points on the strength of 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.

  • Points per game: 114.4 (18th)
  • Points allowed per game: 109.5 (2nd)
  • Rebounds per game: 44.8 (7th)
  • Assists per game: 27.7 (10th)
  • FG%: 48.1 (12th)
  • 3PT%: 36.6 (16th)

Player stats for Celtics vs. Cavaliers

Celtics

Below are the top five players from the Celtics’ most recent game vs. the Golden State Warriors.

  • Jaylen Brown: 29 PTS, 3 RBS, 4 ASTS
  • Jayson Tatum: 27 PTS, 3 RBS, 5 ASTS
  • Payton Pritchard: 19 PTS, 6 RBS, 6 ASTS
  • Derrick White: 14 PTS, 3 RBS, 8 ASTS
  • Sam Hauser: 12 PTS, 5 RBS, 0 ASTS

The Celtics’ season leaders heading into Tuesday’s game are as follows:

  • Jayson Tatum: 27.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.8 APG
  • Jaylen Brown: 22.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.7 APG
  • Kristaps Porzingis: 20.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 APG
  • Derrick White: 15.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.9 APG
  • Jrue Holiday: 12.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.8 APG

Cavaliers

Below are the top five players from Cleveland’s recent game against the New York Knicks.

  • Sam Merrill: 21 PTS, 3 RBS, 2 ASTS
  • Darius Garland: 19 PTS, 4 RBS, 5 ASTS
  • Jarrett Allen: 18 PTS, 7 RBS, 6 ASTS
  • Isaac Okoro: 17 PTS, 5 RBS, 4 ASTS
  • Evan Mobley: 13 PTS, 13 RBS, 6 ASTS

Here are the Cavaliers’ season leaders heading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Celtics:

  • Donovan Mitchell: 28 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.2 APG
  • Darius Garland: 18.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.1 APG
  • Evan Mobley: 15.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 3.0 APG
  • Jarrett Allen: 15.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.7 APG
  • Caris LeVert: 14.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.8 APG
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The PlayMA Editorial Team provides everything you need to know about sports betting, casinos, lottery, and all other legal gambling in Massachusetts. The content writing process for the PlayMA Editorial team includes using an AI application but is edited and fact-checked by real-life humans. No piece of content is published before human eyes take a fine-tooth comb to ensure its accuracy, reliability and trustworthiness.

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