Cavaliers Visit Celtics in NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1

On Wednesday night, Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals best of seven series will tip off from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts when the Boston Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The current line has Cleveland favored by 4 points with the over/under point total sitting on 219.5.

Cleveland is 8-0 in the playoffs thus far after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in Round 1 and the Toronto Raptors in the conference semifinals. On the other hand, Boston played and won a difficult series that went seven games versus the Washington Wizards.

Boston’s Game 7 victory was Monday while Cleveland has not played in 10 days. The Cavaliers will turn again to stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as the team in general will have to shake off some rust from not playing.

Boston defeated Washington 115-105 in Game 7 on Monday and is playing in its first conference finals since 2012. Even though Boston is the No. 1 seed and has the home court advantage, the Celtics remain big underdogs in this series.

Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters he would get Kevin Love his star power forward more involved after Love has averaged only 13.8 points and 9 rebounds during the 8 games Cleveland has played thus far in the postseason.

During the regular season in three games versus Boston, Love averaged 23.6 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Love has told his coach and told the media that as long as the team wins he is happy. He added that the number of shots per game do not matter as long as his team wins.

Isaiah Thomas has put his Boston teammates on his shoulders during the majority of this postseason. Despite the different personal hardships he has faced, including his sister tragically dying just before the postseason begin, Thomas has averaged 25.5 points per game during the playoffs.

In Game 7 versus the Wizards, Thomas scored 29 points while handing out 12 assists and turning the ball over just twice.

Cleveland was 3-1 against Boston during the regular season.

Boston backup center Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points in Game 7 versus Washington.

Cleveland is 5-0-1 against the spread in its past 6 games played.

Boston is 9-2 ATS in its past 11 games played.

Prediction: Cleveland will like need at least a half to shake off their rust from not playing in 10 days but then will turn up the heat. Lean here toward the favorites to cover.