Free Pick | NBA | Monday | May 13

Nelly’s is on a 17-5 MLB run since April 21 – check out tonight’s selection:

#514 Cleveland Cavaliers +8.5 over Boston Celtics 6:00 PM CT

After stumbling in Game 2, Boston took care of business in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. The Celtics outshot Cleveland by more than eight percent and led comfortably the entire second half. The final margin was just 13 points in a game where Cleveland made only nine free throws at home. The rebounding and turnover numbers were nearly even, Boston just shot significantly better and still only narrowly finished past the road favorite spread. Cleveland did not lose a home game in the first round of the playoffs and Donovan Mitchell looks probable tonight though not without some risk as he battles a calf injury. Cleveland is 30-16 S/U at home this season and had won three in a row as a home underdog before Game 3. #1 seeds as road favorites in Game 4 of the conference semifinals are just 7-15-1 ATS historically going back to 2000 and Game 4 hosts in this round that lost S/U in Game 3 have had positive results as well, even with Minnesota falling short in that role last night. With the injury situations for both games tonight Monday’s NBA playoff card is a difficult one to take a significant stand on, but this is an appealing price in what is often a favorable situation for Cavaliers at home in a desperate situation hosting Game 4.