Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Pick and Odds (Feb 28)

• The Celtics are 42-17 and have the best record in the Atlantic Division.
• Cleveland is 48-10 and has the best record in the Central Division.
• These teams last played on Feb. 4, with the Celtics claiming a 112-105 victory.

One of the games on Friday’s NBA slate features the Boston Celtics hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can Boston get back on track against the league’s top team in our Celtics vs Cavaliers pick?

Celtics Look To Regroup Following Loss Against Detroit

The defending champs’ recent six-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday night when the Detroit Pistons defeated them 117-97. Jayson Tatum paced the team’s offense with 27 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Derrick White finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists, knocking down five of his 10 attempts from 3-point range. Boston overcame an early nine-point deficit to tie the game at 55 going into the halftime break.

However, Detroit took control of the game in the second half, outscoring the Celtics by a 62-42 margin and holding them to just 41.9 percent shooting from the field.

Cleveland Shooting For Ninth Straight Win

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are hot and have won eight straight games, including a blowout 122-82 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Max Strus was one of three starters who scored in double figures. He tied for team-high scoring honors with 17 points on a sizzling 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Evan Mobley also had 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Although Donovan Mitchell had a quiet night (11 points), the Cavaliers’ bench scored 62 points.

Cleveland held a 34-16 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The Cavaliers scored at least 30 points in three of the four periods and held Orlando to 16 points in the first and fourth quarters.

Cleveland outshot Orlando 56.3 percent to 36.7 percent. The Cavaliers also enjoyed a decisive 57-15 advantage in three-point shooting.

Celtics vs Cavaliers Pick: Boston Bounces Back

The Cs have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games. The defending champs also play well at both ends of the floor, ranking fifth in defensive rating and fourth in offensive rating.

On the other hand, the Cavaliers are 9-1 in their previous 10 contests, thanks in part to their current eight-game winning streak.

Cleveland has the sixth-best defensive rating in the association and boasts the league’s top offense. In a game that could go in either direction, look for the defending champs to bounce back following a disappointing showing against the Pistons.