May 7, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks on Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the third quarter of game one of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
- The Boston Celtics look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, May 9
- The Celtics romped to a 25-point win over Cleveland on Tuesday
- Below, find the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Game 2 odds, predictions, and player props
After a 25-point beatdown in Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-38, 22-23 away, 41-47-2 ATS) return to TD Garden for Game 2 of their best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics (69-19, 40-5 home, 47-37-4 ATS) on Thursday, May 9, at 7:10 pm ET.
The point spread for Game 2 have swung even further towards Boston, which is listed as a 13.5-point home favorite in the Game 2 Cavaliers vs Celtics odds.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +13.5 (-110) | +650 | O 212.5 (-108) |
| Boston Celtics | -13.5 (-110) | -1000 | U 212.5 (-112) |
The Celtics, who were -650 moneyline favorites ahead of Game 1, have shortened to -1000 for Game 2. The Cavaliers are +650 longshots to even the series at one game apiece.
After Game 1 went over its total of 210, the over/under for Game 2 has increased 2.5 points to 212.5 in Thursday’s NBA odds.
Odds as of May 9 at Fanatics. Lock in a Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to bet on Cavs vs Celtics Game 2 on Thursday.
The odds to win the series now favor the Celtics at a hypershort -5000 (after opening at -1400). The Cavs are +1600 to advance. Boston is as short as -500 to win the East in the NBA conference odds while the Cavs are hovering around +10000.
Jaylen Brown Dominates Game 1
Boston two-guard Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting including 4-of-6 from three in just 34 minutes on Tuesday, helping Boston build a ten-point lead by halftime that stretched to 25 by the end of the fourth (120-95).
Point guard Derrick White added 25 points on 7-of-12 from deep, continuing his red-hot postseason. After averaging just 15.2 PPG in the regular season, White is scoring 22.8 PPG in the playoffs, second on the team behind Brown.
Jayson Tatum is only averaging 21.2 points in the postseason (down from 26.9 PPG in the regular season) but leads the team in assists (5.3 APG) and rebounds (10.5 RPG).
Led by 11 rebounds from Tatum and 10 from Luke Kornet (in just 21 minutes), Boston crushed Cleveland on the glass in Game 1 (55 rebounds to 38). The Cavs dearly missed center Jarrett Allen, who missed his fourth straight game with a rib contusion. Allen is listed as questionable for Game 2.
Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 33 points for Cleveland in a losing effort, shooting 12-of-25 from the field. Evan Mobley added 17 points and game-high 13 rebounds but he was the only Cleveland player with more than seven boards.
CLE vs BOS Player Props for Game 2
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Horford (BOS) | 9.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 7.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 3.5 (Ov +130 | Un -155) | 1.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) |
| Darius Garland (CLE) | 15.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 3.5 (Ov +130 | Un -155) | 5.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 1.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) |
| Derrick White (BOS) | 17.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 4.5 (Ov +142 | Un -170) | 4.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) |
| Donovan Mitchell (CLE) | 29.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 5.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 4.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -166 | Un +140) |
| Evan Mobley (CLE) | 13.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 10.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 2.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 0.5 (Ov +185 | Un -225) |
| Jarrett Allen (CLE) | 13.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 10.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | OFF | OFF |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 25.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 6.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 2.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 2.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 27.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 9.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) | 5.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) | 2.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) |
| Jrue Holiday (BOS) | 12.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 5.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 4.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 1.5 (Ov -170 | Un +142) |
| Max Strus (CLE) | 9.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 1.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) |
| Payton Pritchard (BOS) | 7.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 2.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 2.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 1.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) |
NBA player props from DraftKings on May 9, 2024.
Mitchell’s Game 2 point total has been increased from 27.5 to 29.5, while Brown’s has gone up from 23.5 to 25.5. Tatum’s is still at 27.5 even though he hasn’t scored more than 22 points in four straight.
Cavaliers vs Celtics Game 2 Predictions
With Jarrett Allen out, the Cavs just aren’t big enough to compete on the glass, and they don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up if they aren’t getting extra possessions.
It’s not certain that Allen will be out again in Game 2, but his recovery is apparently not progressing quickly, and he wasn’t at the Cavs shootaround on Thursday morning.
With Allen likely to miss his fifth straight game, bettors can expect a similarly dismal performance from Cleveland on the glass and another lopsided Boston victory.
CLE vs BOS Game 2 picks:
- Celtics -13.5 (-110)
- Tatum under 27.5 points (-125)
- White over 17.5 points (-108)
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.