NBA Playoffs 2023/24, 2nd round, Game 1, Wednesday, May 08, 2024
The Cavs got out of the passenger seat against Orlando virtually on the last groove and took over the role of driver after an 18-point deficit in Game 7. Thanks to another top performance from Donovan Mitchell (39 points in Game 7), Cleveland can now take on the top favorites from Boston in Round 2 of the NBA playoffs.
The Celtics are the clear odds-on favorite in this match-up, but also Donovan Mitchell’s favorite opponent. For my Celtics Cavaliers betting tip, I use my Happybet betting bonus and play the odds of 1.87 for “Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points.”
For six years, Donovan Mitchell has been making the NBA unsafe and proving his scoring skills night after night. He doesn’t just tear his opponents apart in the regular season, no: he is also on hand as a guard in the playoffs.
The Cavs’ number 45 got off to a sluggish start in the controversial first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but improved steadily and was the decisive baller on the court towards the end.
When progress was on the line, Donovan Mitchell shouldered the entire Cleveland franchise and scored a combined 89 points in Game 6 (50) and Game 7 (39)!
Except for Allen Iverson (2001), no player in NBA history has scored more points in Game 6 + Game 7 of a playoff series!
Thus, J.B. Bickerstaff averaged 28.7 points per game from his go-to-guy over the entire first-round series and was ultimately able to rely on the nerves of his leader.
Including the recently concluded series against the Magic, Mitchell has now played 51 playoff games, 23 (!) of which he has finished with 30 points or more.
The only way the Cavs can pull off a surprise coup against the Celtics is if Donovan Mitchell continues to deliver outstanding performances.
The guard’s coaches have actually always been able to rely on their protégé in games against the Celtics. Against no other team in the NBA has Mitchell put up a better scoring average in his career than against the Celtics (29.6 points per game).
Without better support than in the first round, however, even a gigantic Mitchell won’t be enough. Boston amassed the most wins of any team in the regular season (64).
The Celtics obviously took their first-round matchup against the Heat seriously, winning by an average of 107.8-92.9 points per game.
Throughout the series, Coach Joe Mazzulla got over 21.5 points per game from three different players (Jalen Brown, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum)!
Cleveland, on the other hand, had only one player on the court in the first round, Donovan Mitchell, who averaged more than 17.0 points per night.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff will have to put together a match plan in less than 52 hours that overrides the predictions of the sports betting providers and leads Cleveland to victory against expectations and odds of up to 5.60.
At least the Cavaliers’ fans can draw hope from the three regular-season duels this season. None of them ended with a difference of eleven points.
In the Betway app, you will find a difference of 11.5 points as the set line. If you play a “Cavaliers win (HC +11.5)”, you can receive 1.90 times your stake
For a successful Celtics Cavaliers betting tip, the Cavs’ shooting against Boston has to improve again. The Cavs converted just 29 percent of their three-pointers against Orlando, a far cry from the regular season (36.8 percent).
The last duel against the Magic was another horrible night from beyond the three-point line, but individual players improved again.
Max Strus converted 50 percent of his threes (3/6) and was actively supported by Sam Merrill (2/2). The top regular-season scorer could see more minutes against Boston than in the series against the Magic, giving Mitchell extra space for his drives.
When it comes to the visitors’ defense, however, there are still legitimate concerns. Cleveland may still have to do without Jarrett Allen, whose absence could be mercilessly exploited by Boston.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are defensive players who should have trouble with the size of the Celtics guards.
From this perspective, a bet on “Over 208.5 points” is definitely worthwhile and sufficiently high with odds of around 1.87.
Even if the Celtics dominate the first match in the second round, this does not rule out the success of my Celtics Cavaliers prediction, as Donovan Mitchell can have a good evening regardless of the result.
Boston enters the second-round matchup with the Cavs rested and as big favorites with less than 52 hours of recovery time remaining after their Game 7 against Orlando.
My question is not whether Donovan Mitchell can build on his recent performances, but to what extent he will receive additional scoring support from his teammates.
The Cavs guard was by far the best scorer in J.B. Bickerstaff’s team and, despite a high usage rate, put up quite efficient shooting percentages (45.8 percent FG percentage).
My Celtics Cavaliers tip for you is: Donovan Mitchell scores over 27.5 points!
