NBA Predictions: Will Irving, Celtics get best of Cavaliers? 1/3/18

Celtics vs. Cavaliers Pick

Will Kyrie Irving and the host Boston Celtics record the victory tonight over his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers? Tip-off is at 8PM ET.

Who Oddsmakers Like: According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Celtics are a 3-point favorite on the spread line. The total sits at 213 points. Boston opened as a 2.5-point fave, while the over-under remains where it started.

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Who the Public Likes: As of Wednesday afternoon, 66 percent of the betting public has sided with the Cavaliers.

Injury Report: Ruining a storyline, former Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas will miss tonight's game due to rest his hip after making his season debut Tuesday night versus the Trail Blazers. Derrick Rose is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. Iman Shumpert will be out until late January after arthroscopic knee surgery. For the Celtics, Semi Ojeleye is questionable tonight after missing the last four games with a back injury. Gordon Hayward has been sidelined since breaking his ankle in the Boston opener against the Cavs.

Who the Trends Like: Cleveland is 4-0 ATS in its last four meetings in Boston. The under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings in Boston. Cleveland is 0-4 ATS in its last four games following a straight up win.

Who We Like: The Cavaliers ended a three-game losing skid with a convincing 127-110 win over the Trail Blazers last night, but have to turn right around and hit the road to take on the Celtics. With Thomas out, we don't get the anticipated matchup against his former team. Boston lost 102-99 in the season opener, which included the aforementioned gruesome Hayward injury. I like the Celtics to get a semblance of revenge, which would solidify their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: BOSTON CELTICS -3

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