Latest news with #Pacers-Cavs
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Forsberg: Celtics' health is ‘vital' to championship run
How Celtics are using Pacers-Cavs ending to better prepare Payton Pritchard explains how the Celtics learn from teams around the league to be better prepared for in-game scenariosHow Celtics are using Pacers-Cavs ending to better prepare originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston 0:51 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment
How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Head coach Joe Mazzulla leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing the Boston Celtics for games. So, it shouldn't surprise you that his players were studying the closing seconds of Tuesday's wild Game 2 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Advertisement The Cavs led the Pacers by seven points with 57 seconds remaining before Indy mounted a furious comeback to win 120-119 and take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series. The Pacers' stunning late-game surge included an Aaron Nesmith put-back dunk off a missed free throw, an Aaron Nembhard steal off a Cleveland inbound pass and a Tyrese Haliburton go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Celtics guard Payton Pritchard noted there are lessons Boston can take from that chaotic final minute, especially after the C's blew a 20-point lead against the Knicks in Game 1. 'Definitely can learn from the Cavs being up seven — the game's never over until it's over,' Pritchard told reporters Wednesday morning at shootaround. 'So, you've got to take care of the rock and even on a free throw box out — all the little things matter. We've got to learn from that and take it into this game.' Advertisement Pritchard said it's common practice for the Celtics to look for teaching moments in other NBA games, particularly in the playoffs. And Nesmith's put-back dunk appeared to be a particular point of emphasis for Boston, which has to contend with a strong rebounder on the wing in New York's Josh Hart. 'We always look at stuff across league — little plays, stuff that could come up in situations for us,' Pritchard said. 'It's just preparation at the end of the day, so if we're in a situation like they were in, we are already prepared. 'What are we trying to do? How are we gonna box these guys out on a free-throw box-out? If I'm not in the lane, I'm boxing outside the 3-point line. I've got to hit a guy like Josh Hart. He might crash hard, so I've got to be prepared to box him out in that situation. Advertisement 'It's little things like that. You've got to just be a student of the game and learn and keep growing.' Hart racked up five offensive rebounds (11 total) in Game 1, including a pair of late-game boards that played a key role in New York's comeback. So, it's understandable that Hart was on the Celtics' minds as they watched Nesmith soar over Donovan Mitchell for his clutch dunk. But the bigger-picture lesson for Boston from Pacers-Cavs is that no lead is safe, and that even the smallest lapses in intensity can prove costly. The Celtics were in full control of Monday's Game 1 with a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter, but that lead fully evaporated over 10 minutes of game play thanks to a combination of missed 3-pointers and defensive miscues. The good news is that Mazzulla's club has proven adept at learning from its mistakes: Boston has won four consecutive playoff games following a loss, with an average margin of victory of 15 points. Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston's coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.
Fox Sports
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA playoff odds: 'Time for the 'dogs to have their day'
Generally speaking, the past few months have been fantastic for the public betting masses. They cleaned up regularly on favorites in NFL odds, then made a pile of cash on favorites in March Madness odds. It took much longer than oddsmakers anticipated, but the pendulum finally swung — at least for a couple of days — on NBA playoff odds. Underdogs are 5-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) through the first five games of the second round. "I'm not that surprised, and the reason I say that is because, over the past five months, we've had a lot of chalk winning, with football and the NCAA Tournament," said Johnny Avello, director of operations for DraftKings Sportsbook. "There will always be a time when there's a switching of the guard. This was that time for the 'dogs to have their day." The run of upsets is creating interesting betting opportunities for the NBA playoffs. Avello helps dive more into those prospects. Second-Round Switcheroo It all started Sunday with Game 1 of the Indiana Pacers-Cleveland Cavaliers series. The Pacers were 8.5-point road underdogs and won outright 121-112. Then it continued on Monday and Tuesday: The New York Knicks, also 8.5-point road underdogs in Game 1, shocked the Boston Celtics 108-105 in overtime. The Denver Nuggets, 10.5-point Game 1 road underdogs, sank the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119, on Aaron Gordon's final-seconds 3-pointer. Golden State dumped Minnesota 99-88 in Game 1, with the Warriors 6-point road underdogs. So, in all four second-round Game 1s, underdogs won outright, the first time that's ever happened in the NBA. And, for good measure, in Pacers-Cavs Game 2 on Tuesday, Indiana rallied from 20 down to win 120-119 on a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer, with the Pacers 5.5-point 'dogs. Where bettors can most likely take advantage is with series odds on the Celtics and Thunder. Prior to Game 1, Boston was a hefty -800 favorite to win the series vs. New York, while OKC was -700 to win the series vs. Denver. Now, it's Celtics -340 and Thunder -290. "Now, bettors have the opportunity to bet two favorites at a much shorter price. And they're doing it. We're seeing some Celtics money and some OKC money," Avello said. And the opportunity isn't just with straight bets. Parlaying the Favorites Oklahoma City put up the NBA's best regular-season record, at 68-14 SU, then swept Memphis 4-0 in the first round. Boston was 61-21 SU in the regular season and dispatched Orlando 4-1 in the first round. Parlaying both those teams to win their second-round series, now that the odds are a little easier to stomach, could be worth your while. And if you really want to get frisky — there's a better chance you'll lose your bet, but the payout is better if you win — you could even add in Cleveland, which opened as a -400 series favorite vs. Indiana and is now a +175 underdog. But Avello advices proceeding with caution. "It's there for bettors, and it's being done by some," he said. "You probably feel confident in the Celtics. It's hard to believe the Knicks could beat the Celtics. But the problem with being confident in that parlay bet is that you don't feel as good about the other two teams. "OKC is just starting to come into its own, and it's the same with the Cavs. Plus, the Nuggets have been in this position recently. They have the pedigree." Indeed, Denver won the NBA championship in 2023. "I think we'll see more money on the Celtics, parlayed lightly with the others, or just straight bets on the Celtics," Avello said. "Parlaying two or three of them doesn't seem as sure, in the bettors' eyes. I don't know if they're feeling that, outside of the Celtics series." Two-Way Wagering Thanks to the second-round underdog run, there is another option: backing both sides in series odds. "We saw customers bet the Knicks and Nuggets pretty good at +550 and +500, respectively, before Game 1," Avello said. "If you took +550 with the Knicks, and now you can lay -340 with the Celtics, you can get off your spot. You put yourself in a guaranteed spot where you can't lose." The operative words there: "Can't lose." Meaning, the worst-case scenario is to break even, and the other scenario is making a couple hundred bucks. For example: If, pre-series, you put $100 on the Knicks +550, then you could now come back on the Celtics -340 for $340. If New York wins, then you'd win $550, minus the $340 losing Celtics bet, for a total profit of $210. If Boston wins, then you'd win $100, but lose $100 on the Knicks wager, so you'd break even. And if you wanted to lock in a little profit, then you've got a narrow window there, too, if you do the math. But let's be honest here: Those strategies are only if you're completely risk-averse. And if you bet a hundred bucks on the Knicks +550, then you're not risk-averse; you did so because you want to turn a little into a lot. So you're probably better off skipping all that math. Let it ride and hope for a Knicks or Nuggets upset. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for . He previously worked for Covers. Follow him on Twitter @ PatrickE_Vegas . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cavs injury updates: Will star trio play in crucial Game 2 against Pacers?
Cavs injury updates: Will star trio play in crucial Game 2 against Pacers? Show Caption Hide Caption Previewing the Warriors and Timberwolves matchup in the NBA playoffs USA TODAY's Lorenzo Reyes breaks down his thoughts on Steph Curry and the aging Warriors team going up against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. Sports Pulse The Cleveland Cavaliers ended the NBA regular season as the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, but despite breezing through their first-round matchup against the Miami Heat, they've hit a bit of a road bump in the conference semifinals. The team dropped Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers and injuries have started ramping up. All-Stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, as well as key reserve De'Andre Hunter are all questionable on the team's injury report. Without them, the Cavs will have a much tougher road to earning a split before the series shifts to Indianapolis. Here's the latest on the availability of Cleveland's stars as we approach Game 2 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers: TV channel, time, how to watch Tuesday Latest injury news on Cavs stars Darius Garland Darius Garland was not seen at the Cavs' shootaround Tuesday morning, per NBA reporter Chris Fedor. Garland was seen jogging on a treadmill in a room beside the court though. Garland injured his toe during the Cavs' first-round matchup against Miami and has missed each of the team's past three games. Garland is labeled as questionable on ESPN's injury report. Evan Mobley Like Garland, Mobley (sprained ankle) was also not seen at the team's shootaround Tuesday morning. Mobley's injury occurred during Cleveland's Game 1 loss against Indiana. De'Andre Hunter Hunter was also not seen during the portion of the shootaround open to the public. Hunter did, however, express intent to play in Game 2 after he suffered a sprained right thumb when it dislocated during a hard fall in Game 1. Hunter is also listed as questionable. How to watch Pacers vs. Cavs, Game 2: Time: 7 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET Location: Rocket Arena in Cleveland Rocket Arena in Cleveland TV: TNT, truTV TNT, truTV Stream: Max, Sling TV Stream Pacers-Cavs with Sling TV
