With a spot at the top of the East at stake, the Cavaliers' trip to Boston heads our weekly basketball bets...
Boston Celtics to beat Cleveland Cavaliers – {ODDS:148780973:10/17}
In a game that will see one team move clear at the top of the East, home advantage should prove crucial.
The Celtics also have an impressive record of 28 wins and just 10 defeats on their own court, while Cleveland have lost half of their 38 games on the road.
The Cavaliers have been inconsistent since the All-Star break and have lost five of their last 10 games, while Boston are the conference’s form team, having won nine out of 11.
They are the more put-together team at this point, and should come away with the win on Wednesday night.
Detroit Pistons to beat Toronto Raptors – {ODDS:148780802:20/23}
The home side are again the team to back here in another all-Eastern Conference match-up.
Of the Pistons’ 35 wins this season, 24 have come in Detroit, and five of their last six defeats have been in away games.
The Raptors are the better team, but a road record of 20 wins and 18 defeats is certainly cause for concern.
Fatigue will also likely be an issue after they suffered a 28-point loss to the Pacers in Indiana on Tuesday night.
The Pistons – back at home and refreshed – are the right pick here.
Charlotte Hornets to beat Miami Heat – {ODDS:148780629:4/5}
The Hornets – winners of seven of their last 10 games – are looking good in their late playoff push.
That should continue against a Heat team that have suffered five defeats in eight.
Miami are coming off back-to-back home losses against the lowly Knicks and Nuggets, and should struggle even more on the road considering their 16-22 away record.
With Charlotte’s only defeats in their last 10 games coming against the East’s first, fourth and fifth seeds, they are the likeliest winners on Wednesday night.
Houston Rockets to beat Denver Nuggets – {ODDS:148781144:10/47}
In our only pick from the Western Conference this week, the Rockets should keep rolling against the Nuggets.
Houston have won eight of their last 12 games, with two of their defeats during that run coming against the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors.
They are the NBA’s second-highest scorers, and now play a team that have conceded more points per game than all but three sides.
These teams met twice in three days last month, and the Rockets came out on top on both occasions.
A repeat result looks almost certain.
