Cavaliers vs. Celtics Thursday NBA injury report, odds: Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell taking heavy prop action in most-wagered game of night
Cleveland and Boston play for the second time in 48 hours on Thursday.
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It's always tough to beat the same NBA team twice in 48 hours during the regular season in the same gym, and that's the task facing the Boston Celtics on Thursday night as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers after beating the Cavs 120-113 on Tuesday night at TD Garden. The rematch is the most-wagered game on the seven-game NBA slate at DraftKings, and All-Star guards Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell are both taking heavy prop action. The Celtics are currently -9.5 on the SportsLine consensus.
Boston is listing Jaylen Brown as questionable with a sprained left ankle. Brown missing the game would certainly affect Tatum in that he would surely get at least a few more shot attempts with the team's second option on offense sidelined. Brown did take part in this morning's shootaround and thus is likely to play. He didn't look hampered Tuesday when he scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting. Tatum had 25 as well, going 7-for-19 from the field in a game-high 41 minutes.
Tatum is taking the most action of any player Thursday on the points market at Over 27.5 points (-120), and I guarantee you some bettors are playing in anticipation of Brown potentially sitting. Tatum is also taking big action on Over 4.5 assists (-110) and Under 9.5 rebounds (-130). He had 10 boards and five assists on Tuesday to go with those 25 points for his 82nd career double-double with at least 20 points, which ranks 11th in Celtics history.
Boston is tied for the NBA's best record with Minnesota at 17-5, but the Celtics are the lone team yet to lose at home this season (11-0). They have won 18 consecutive home regular season games, tying their longest streak since the 1990-91 season. The team record for most consecutive home wins to start a season is 17 in 1957-58. The Celtics may not be home underdogs once the rest of the way, barring injury.
The Celtics went 26-for-26 at the free throw line on Tuesday, only the fifth time in since the institution of the shot clock that the team finished 26-for-26 or better from the charity stripe. The Celtics have made 40 straight from there, their second-longest free throw streak since 1997-98, trailing the 41 in a row they made in February 2019.
Cleveland is 1-2 on its current four-game road trip. Excellent young center Evan Mobley has missed the trip's first three games with a knee injury and will not play Thursday. The spread would be likely around -6 if he was available. His absence was a big reason why the Cavs were out-rebounded 45-35 on Tuesday. They also were outscored 26-6 at the foul line.
Mitchell led the Cavs with 29 points on Tuesday and is taking the second-most action tonight on the DK points market at Over 27.5 (-120). Mitchell is averaging 27.4 points per game, the third-best mark in the East and eighth in the NBA. He has scored at least 20 points in 18 of his 19 appearances. He's tallied at least 30 seven times and at least 40 twice.
In his last seven outings against Boston, Mitchell is averaging 35.7 points on 50.0% shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Mitchell Under 6.5 rebounds (+100) also is a popular wager Thursday.
If this game goes to overtime, be aware that the Cavs are 10-0 in OT games since the start of the 2021-22 season, tied for the fifth-longest win streak in OT in NBA history. After Thursday, the teams don't play again until March 5 in Cleveland, which will conclude the season series.
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