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What most people assume will be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals takes place on Friday night in Cleveland, where the East-leading Cavaliers host the suddenly slumping Boston Celtics.

Cleveland is a perfect 18-0 at home and a 4-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.

Actually, both teams come in not playing their best basketball. The Celtics were on a 70-win pace but have lost six of their last eight games, with that Christmas Day loss to the Lakers seemingly shaking them up. Cleveland, meanwhile, has lost two of its last four games.

Boston’s Ray Allen is shooting just 39 percent from the field since that Laker loss and Rajon Rondo has come back to earth. Paul Pierce has been the best Celtic in the past few weeks, shooting 55 percent from the field in the past eight games.

“That’s not a bad test for us,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said of tonight’s game. “It’s going to be a tough game. They’re playing unbelievable basketball. Maybe it will be something to get us going. Who knows?”



Cleveland (-175 on the WagerWeb.com money line) has overtaken Boston in the East, leading by a half-game, with the Orlando Magic just behind both teams. It’s the first time Cleveland has been atop the conference this late in the season since March 21, 1989. The Cavaliers have lost only once since Dec. 13 and triumphed in 27 of their last 31 games overall.

There will be two key players missing tonight as the Cavaliers will be without starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who is out until next month with a bone chip in his left ankle. The Celtics will be without reserve guard Tony Allen. Advantage Boston.

Of course, these teams met in a memorable Eastern Conference semifinal matchup last year, with the C’s prevailing in seven games. And they also met on the NBA’s opening night. Memorably, the Cavaliers stayed in their dressing room while the Celtics got their rings, then jumped out to an 11-point lead, but Boston rallied for a 90-85 victory. Pierce had 27 points in that game. LeBron James had 28 points, and Ilgauskas added 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Celtics (+155 on the WagerWeb.com money line) were 0-5 in Cleveland last year, including three playoff defeats. They’ve lost their last nine games overall at Quicken Loans Arena. Boston is also just 3-2 on the road against teams with winning records this season.

WagerWeb.com Trends

* Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
* Celtics are 37-14 ATS in their last 51 games as a road underdog.
* Celtics are 52-21 ATS in their last 73 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Celtics are 37-16 ATS in their last 53 games as an underdog.
* Celtics are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Celtics are 38-18 ATS in their last 56 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Celtics are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.
* Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
* Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
* Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
* Cavaliers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Cavaliers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Cavaliers are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
* Cavaliers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games as a home favorite.
* Cavaliers are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 games as a favorite.
* Cavaliers are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 home games.
* Cavaliers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Atlantic.
* Cavaliers are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Cavaliers are 36-16 ATS in their last 52 games overall.
* Cavaliers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
* Underdog is 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
* Celtics are 5-16-2 ATS in the last 23 meetings.
* Celtics are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.

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