Best Cavaliers vs. Celtics Odds, NBA Player Props & Score Predictions Tonight: Feb. 28

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference clash on Friday when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Boston Celtics. Tipoff from TD Garden is at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). 

The Celtics have taken two-of-three meetings from the Cavs, including handing them their first loss of the season after opening with 15 straight wins. We aren't contending with many significant injury concerns as we make our best Cavaliers vs. Celtics prediction and player props.

Boston is a 1-point favorite as we near tipoff, moving from an opening line of -2.5.

Can Jayson Tatum and Co. inch closer to the top seed in the East? Or will the Cavaliers open up a 7.5-game lead with under two months remaining in the regular season?

💰 Best Cavaliers vs. Celtics predictions & NBA player props tonight: Feb. 28

Here are my best Cavaliers vs. Celtics predictions and player props for tonight's NBA matchup, with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our NBA picks along with our guide on how to bet on the NBA.    

• Game pick: Celtics to cover 2.5 (-105 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
• Derrick White player prop pick: Over 3.5 made 3-pointers (+102 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Jarrett Allen player prop pick: Over 11.5 rebounds (+114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
• Jayson Tatum player prop pick: Over 26.5 points (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 Cavaliers vs. Celtics pick & odds: Who will win tonight's NBA matchup?

As of 10:01 a.m. ET, the Celtics are favored by 2.5 points to beat the Cavaliers in tonight's NBA matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. Though the Cavaliers are well ahead of the Celtics in the standings, I’m predicting the Celtics will beat the Cavaliers and cover the spread (-2.5).

🔢 Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds & betting lines

Here are the latest Cavaliers vs. Celtics odds and betting lines from our best live betting sites.

🎯 Cavaliers vs. Celtics score prediction: Celtics 113, Cavaliers 109

I predict Celtics will beat the Cavaliers by a final score of Celtics 113, Cavaliers 109. These teams have played three close contests this season, but this comes down to homecourt advantage for me. 

The Cavaliers are the second-highest-scoring team in the NBA, averaging 122.9 points per game. However, they’ve been struggling offensively against the Celtics. Boston held the Cavaliers to just 105 points on their home floor during the last meeting between these two squads. Considering the Cavaliers have yet to score more than 117 points against the Celtics this season, it’s clear Boston's third-ranked scoring defense is up to the challenge that Cleveland presents.

Ultimately, this will be a tight game, but the Celtics are 3-1 in their last four home contests, including three double-digit victories. And while the Cavaliers are red-hot and winners of eight straight, their only loss in the team's last 13 outings was to this Celtics club.

Best bet: Celtics -2.5 (-105 via BetMGM)

💰 Best Cavaliers vs. Celtics player prop bet odds & expert picks: Feb. 28

Here are my best Cavaliers vs. Celtics player prop bet odds and expert picks for tonight's NBA matchup. You can also check out our NBA player prop odds tool for the latest NBA odds at the best legal sportsbooks in your region.    

🏀 Best Derrick White prop pick: Over 3.5 made three-pointers ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +102 via FanDuel ($10 to win $10.20)

The Cavaliers are allowing the 10th-fewest 3-pointers per game, but they rank just 17th in opponent's 3-point field-goal percentage. Therefore, this seems like an average matchup for White at worst.

But that hasn't been the case this season. White knocked down six of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc against the Cavs on Feb. 4, and he went 4-of-7 from deep in November. 

White has made at least five threes in three consecutive games entering tonight’s contest. He’s hot and has been enjoying success against the Cavaliers this season, so let's back him. And when the price at FanDuel is +102 and sitting at -115 at some of our other best sportsbooks, it's easy to see how much value there is in taking this Over.

📊 Best Derrick White prop bet odds

🏀 Best Jarrett Allen prop pick: Over 11.5 rebounds ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +114 via FanDuel ($10 to win $11.40)

Allen has pulled down at least 10 rebounds in all three games against the Celtics, and he just grabbed 18 during the Cavaliers’ Feb. 4 loss. Rebounding has been an area of minor weakness for the Celtics this season, as they rank just 18th in opponent's rebounds allowed per game. They gave up 61 total rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

The center is averaging 11.5 rebounds per game this month, but he’s only averaging 10.3 per contest this season. And though he’s been great against the Celtics this year, Allen has only topped 11.5 rebounds once when facing Boston.

This would be a four-star play if the total was set at 10.5. But it's three stars at 11.5, mainly because of the great price and Allen’s high floor.

📊 Best Jarrett Allen prop bet odds

🏀 Best Jayson Tatum prop pick: Over 26.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via FanDuel ($11 to win $10)

Tatum scored just 22 points during the Celtics’ Feb. 4 win, which is the only reason this number is so low. He tallied 33 points while shooting over 40% from the floor during his previous two games against the Cavs. He went just 7-of-23 from the field in early February.

Though the Cavaliers boast the league's sixth-best shooting defense, seeing Tatum perform as poorly as he did earlier in February and still almost hit this number gives me a lot of hope for him tonight. After all, he’s averaging 26.6 points per game.

Four of our five best sports betting sites are setting this total set at 25.5, but the price for the Over is far too expensive. Therefore, I’ll take the extra point for the better price in a matchup that's been good for Tatum this season.

📊 Best Jayson Tatum prop bet odds

🚑 Cavaliers vs. Celtics injuries

Here are the latest injuries for tonight's Cavaliers vs. Celtics matchup, which will update in real time.

📺 How to watch Cavaliers vs. Celtics tonight

📅 Date: Friday, February 28
🕗 Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: TD Garden (Boston)
📺 TV: ESPN
💻 Streaming: Sling

❓ Cavaliers vs. Celtics FAQs

Who is favored to win Cavaliers vs. Celtics?

Most of our best sports betting apps are setting the Celtics as the moneyline favorite at -135, meaning they're getting an implied winning probability of 57.45%.

What are the odds for Cavaliers vs. Celtics?

The Celtics the 2.5-point favorites, and the total is set at either 233 or 233.5.

What time is Cavaliers vs. Celtics tonight?

The Cavaliers and Celtics will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden in Boston.

How to watch Cavaliers vs. Celtics

The game will air live on ESPN and can be streamed via Sling.

🏀 Best NBA betting sites

Looking to bet on the NBA tonight? Here are our best NBA betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best sportsbook promos available for tonight's NBA games.

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