Celtics vs. Cavaliers odds, score prediction, time: 2024 NBA playoff ...

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series when they meet the Boston Celtics in Game 2 on Thursday. Boston got on top early and steadily pulled away for a 120-95 win in Game 1 on Tuesday. The Cavs (48-34), who are 22-23 on the road this season, including 0-4 during the 2024 NBA playoffs, are 35-25 against Eastern Conference foes in 2023-24. The Celtics (64-18), who are 40-5 on their home floor this year, are 46-12 versus the East. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) is out for Boston, while Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable for Cleveland.

The game from TD Garden in Boston will tip off at 7 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers are averaging 95.8 points per game this postseason, 14th-best in the NBA, while the Celtics are averaging 109.8, fifth-best. Boston is a 13.5-point favorite in the latest Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 212.5. Before making any Celtics vs. Cavaliers picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the conference semifinals in the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Cavs and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA betting lines and trends for Cavs vs. Celtics:

Celtics vs. Cavaliers spread: Boston -13.5Celtics vs. Cavaliers over/under: 212.5 pointsCeltics vs. Cavaliers money line: Boston -909, Cleveland +606CLE: The Cavaliers have hit the fourth quarter game total under in 28 of their last 40 away games (+16.60 units)BOS: The Celtics have covered the first half spread in 63 of their last 91 games (+31.20 units)Celtics vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLineWhy the Celtics can cover

Forward Jayson Tatum has registered four double-doubles and one triple-double this postseason. In the Game 1 win on Tuesday, Tatum poured in 18 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out five assists and making three blocks. He registered his triple-double in Game 1 of the first round series against Miami, scoring 23 points, while adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists. In six playoff games this year, he is averaging 21.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and one block in 37.5 minutes.

With center Porzingis out, some of the offense is being picked up by veteran point guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday, who won an NBA championship in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks, opened the series on Tuesday with a 14-point, six-rebound and two-assist performance in 36 minutes. He has reached double-digit scoring in each of the last three games. In six postseason games, Holiday is averaging 8.8 points, five rebounds, four assists, 1.2 steals and one block in 35.5 minutes. See which team to pick here. 

Why the Cavaliers can cover 

Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell provides a good deal of offense for Cleveland and is coming off his third consecutive game with 30 or more points. In Game 1 at Boston, Mitchell poured in 33 points while adding six rebounds and five assists. He just missed a double-double in the Game 7 win over Orlando on Sunday, scoring 39 points, while adding nine rebounds and five assists. In eight postseason starts, Mitchell is averaging 29.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 37.4 minutes.

Point guard Darius Garland has also been solid during the playoffs. In eight starts, he is averaging 14.8 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds. In the Game 1 loss to Boston, he recorded 14 points, five assists and three rebounds. He scored a postseason-high 23 points and added five rebounds and five assists in a 104-103 Game 5 first-round win over Orlando on April 30. See which team to pick here. 

How to make Cavaliers vs. Celtics picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 214 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Celtics vs. Cavaliers, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Cavaliers vs. Celtics spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.