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Finally. The Cavaliers gave the C’s a wallop in Game 3, but will they keep the pedal on the metal and pull even in the ECF, or will the Celtics look at their road woes in the rearview mirror and get the away win tonight? Keep reading the Cavaliers vs Celtics Game 3 predictions
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics
- Where: May 21, 2018, 8:30 PM ET
- When: Quicken Loans Arena
- Spread: Cavaliers -7
- Over/Under: 205.5
- More NBA Betting Lines
Betting on the Celtics
The Celtics now know what it feels like to get punched by a heavyweight. They got their lights knocked out. And they know tonight can be even worse.
But, at least, the loss may have brought them out of any hype they might have convinced themselves that it would be easy.
“I feel like we needed this (loss) to get us back … to get us ready for Monday,” Celtics point guard Terry Rozier said, via NBC Sports Boston.
The fact of the matter is the Celtics were outplayed and shut down. Rozier had just two assists in 28 minutes, scoring 13 points on 12 shots while Al Horford only took four field goals in 30 minutes.
Boston missed 16 of their 22 three-point attempts and got small results from their bench when the game was within reach.
But it was the Celtics overwhelmed defense that finally led to things caving in with players such as Jaylen Brown finding themselves in foul trouble quickly.
Boston has to stop Cleveland’s momentum, but they have to go back to being a disciplined team and play as they do back home.
The Celtics cannot afford to commit as many turnovers as they had in Game 3. After recording just 14 total errors in the first two games of the series, Boston turned the ball over 15 times in Game 3.
They also shot just 39.2 percent from the field on Saturday, their worst in the series and second worst in the playoffs so far.
Betting on the Cavaliers
It was about time for the rest of the Cavaliers to help LeBron dish out some pain to the Celtics. The Celtics are still down a game, but at least they have a shot at being even after tonight.
A buck gets twenty that the Cavaliers will go out tonight looking to crush the Celtics will. They know it’s their best chance before heading back to Boston where the Celtics are quite another team.
Boston is weaker on the road (1-5), so a significant win tonight can pick up needed momentum when the games head back to Boston where the Celtics are 9-0 so far this postseason.
Also, a win guarantees the Cavs a game in Cleveland for Game 6 later in the week while a loss for the Celtics is a kidney punch heading back to Boston.
LeBron James took control of things with 27 points on eight-of-12 shooting and 12 assists. He finally got help from his teammates this series as the rest of the Cavs went 14-34 from three-point range.
It is performances by players like Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and George Hill that could ultimately determine the result of Game 4.
Cavaliers vs Celtics Betting Trends
- Boston is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
- Boston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games
- Cleveland is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games
- Cleveland is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games
Game Prediction: When the Celtics have it on, they look like world champions. When they’re not, it’s almost embarrassing to see them play. The Celtics’ lights look dim tonight in front of all the Cavaliers’ shine.
Pick: Cavs -6
