Cleveland @ Boston picks

Compared to last season's 35.8 mark, Donovan Mitchell's playing time has fallen this season to 31.0 minutes per game. The clash with Jaylen Brown lands in the 7th percentile with the opposition's starting SGs burying a mere 29.4% of their 3-point attempts this year when they are on the road. The Cavaliers will likely suffer a drop-off in plays in this game from sharing the court with the 2nd-slowest pace offense in the league over the last 25 games (the Celtics). With respect to getting to the charity stripe, the Cavaliers's unimpressive 20.1 free throws per game as the away team measures as the 6th-worst in the NBA over the last 10 games. Over the last 10 games when they are the visiting team, the opposing team's starting SGs have attempted 1.4 free throws per game (lowest in the league) vs. the Celtics, struggling to get to the free-throw line.

De'Andre Hunter has made 4.0 shots from behind the three-point arc per game over the last 5 games on the road, 1.3 higher than he's converted from downtown in all games this season when playing away from home. The Cavaliers have played at the 6th-fastest pace in the league this year. Offensive rebounds maintain possession and produce more chances for scoring and assists, and the Cavaliers rank 4th-best in in the league with 14.4 offensive boards per game over the last 5 games. In comparison to last year's 2.9 mark, De'Andre Hunter's foul shots scored have surged this year to 3.8 per game.

When it comes to offense, the Boston Celtics's impressive 116.9 points per game comes in as the 6th-highest in the NBA this year. The Boston Celtics will likely get a boost in possessions today from sharing the court with the 6th-fastest tempo offense in the NBA this year (the Cleveland Cavaliers). Luke Kornet has converted 100.0% of his free throws over the last 5 games, 27.1% higher than he's converted in all games this season. Luke Kornet will hold the home court advantage in this contest. Playing with the home court advantage usually boosts player production across the board.

Jarrett Allen has successfully made 70.4% of his field goals this year, putting him in the 99th percentile among all players in the league. Jarrett Allen has averaged 28.6 minutes per game this year, putting him among the most-utilized players in the league: 75th percentile. The rate of three-point shots scored against Al Horford has been remarkably high (41.7%) when he is on his home court and guarding fellow starting Cs this year (89th percentile). The Cavaliers have played at the 6th-fastest pace in the league this year. Offensive rebounds maintain possession and produce more chances for scoring and assists, and the Cavaliers rank 4th-best in in the league with 14.4 offensive boards per game over the last 5 games.

The 2nd-least up-tempo pace-of-play team in the league over the last 25 games has been the Celtics. Offensive rebounds preserve possession and lead to additional opportunities for scoring and assists, but the Boston Celtics rank 5thworst in in the NBA with a mere 9.9 offensive boards per game over the last 15 games.