The NBA’s top Eastern Conference showdown hits Cleveland tonight as the red-hot Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics in what could be a preview of the conference finals.
The Cavs are on fire right now, riding a four-game winning streak and putting up some crazy numbers. They’ve topped 135 points in their last two games, absolutely crushing both Dallas and Atlanta.
But Boston’s not backing down. The Celtics are coming in with their own three-game win streak, including one of the season’s most incredible comebacks – they were down by 26 points against the 76ers in the third quarter before storming back to win.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The oddsmakers have Cleveland as slight 2-point favorites at home, which is pretty rare territory for Boston – they’re usually the ones giving points, not getting them.
You can catch the action on TNT and TruTV, or stream it live on Jazz Sports.
The Cavs will be missing a couple pieces tonight. Isaac Okoro is out with a shoulder injury, and Dean Wade’s knee will keep him sidelined. Boston’s looking mostly healthy, though Payton Pritchard might sit this one out with an illness.
What makes this matchup so interesting is how close these teams have been all season. Even with Cleveland’s recent hot streak, they haven’t been able to pull away from Boston in the standings.
This could be a statement game for either team. The Cavs want to prove they’re for real as the East’s top seed, while Boston’s looking to show why they’ve been the conference favorites all season.
With both teams playing their best basketball of the season, this one should be a classic. The winner gets bragging rights and the inside track for home court throughout the Eastern playoffs.
