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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics prediction: Who will win Game 4 in NBA playoffs?
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- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics prediction: Who will win Game 4 in NBA playoffs?
The Cleveland Cavaliers crashed back down to earth in Game 3 after surprising many by routing the Celtics in Boston in Game 2. Now trailing the series 2-1, they face a near must-win situation at home tonight in Game 4 before the series heads back to Boston for the fifth game.
Here's how our two writers who've followed the Cavs all season, Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich , view Game 4. So far, they are both 9-1 in picking the winner of Cavs playoff games. Their lone loss? Game 2 in Boston .
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Cavs vs. Celtics prediction: Who wins Game 4 Monday night?
LEWIS: Donovan Mitchell needs more help. He has been outstanding since Game 5 of the Magic series, averaging just over 35 points per game. But the Cavs supporting cast hasn't been able to keep up with the Celtics' stars. And the loss of Jarrett Allen in the paint is being felt more and more, as he and Mobley create a nightmare tandem when paired together. Mobley has done a fantastic job on his own, but the Cavs' defense is built to operate with them both in the lineup. A defense at less than full strength and an offense searching for consistency is a tough recipe when facing the team with the best record in the NBA. Celtics 110, Cavs 102
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell shoots the ball against pressure by Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) and center Luke Kornet in the third quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, May 11, 2024, in Cleveland.
ULRICH: The Cavs must play close to their best ball to beat the Celtics. They did it in Game 2, but Game 3 provided a reality check. It's extremely difficult to sustain the levels of efficiency and production Cleveland needs to upset Boston in a best-of-seven series.
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Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is a phenomenal player, probably the best in this series, but the Celtics possess more collective star power. With Jayson Tatum , Jaylen Brown and Derrick White , the Celtics have three healthy players they can count on to carry the scoring load in any given game. The Cavs have almost no wiggle room for error in this matchup, and it's hard for me to take them seriously after they allowed a 14-0 run to start the third quarter of a monumental Game 3 at home. Celtics 112, Cavaliers 101
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cavs vs Celtics prediction for Game 4 of NBA playoff series
