Boston In Must-Win Situation Against Cleveland in Game 2

On Friday night from TD Garden in Boston, Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals best of seven series tips off when the Boston Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland leads the series 1-0.

The current line has Cleveland favored by 5.5 points with the over/under point total sitting on 219.5.

Cleveland showed little rust during Game 1 of the series after not playing for 10 days, as the Cavaliers routed the Celtics through three quarters and coasted to a 117-104 win. The win was Cleveland’s ninth in nine playoff games this season.

LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 38 points while Kevin Love added 32. James also hauled down 9 rebounds and handed out 7 assists.

Boston needs to win Game 2 to at least salvage a split at home. Otherwise they head to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 trailing 2-0. Isaiah Thomas said he and his teammates are not intimidated by the Cavaliers and just need to go out and protect their home court.

Cleveland’s James is averaging 35 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists during the postseason and has scored 30 points or more in seven straight games. Along with his 32 points in Game 1, power forward Love grabbed a team high 12 rebounds, while Tristan Thompson scored 20 points.

Thomas scored only 17 points for Boston in Game 1. The Boston high scorer has scored less than 20 points in 4 of his last six games. Jaylen Brown made a big contribution for Boston scoring 10 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in just 20 minutes of playing while guarding James on the defensive end.

Cleveland was 10-0 to start the postseason last year when they went on to win the NBA title.

The Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving scored only 11 points during Game 1, which is his lowest scoring output of his 9 postseason games this year.

Boston backup center Kelly Olynyk scored only 2 points during Game 1 after scoring 26 in Game 7 of the previous series versus Washington on Monday.

Cleveland is 6-0-1 against the spread in its past 7 games played.

Boston is 9-3 ATS in its past 12 games played.

Prediction: Boston needs a win desperately but Cleveland is just to good. Lean here towards the Cavaliers.