Eastern Conference heavyweights are set to face off tonight when the Celtics host the Cavaliers. At 48-10, Cleveland owns the NBA’s best record. However, the team has lost two of its three meetings with the defending champs this season. If the visitors are going to upset Boston, it’ll take a masterful performance from Donovan Mitchell. Despite a slight statistical decline, the guard has enjoyed another terrific campaign.
The Cavs enter tonight’s contest as 1.5-point underdogs vs. the Celtics, with the over/under set at 233.5 points. Here’s the best Mitchell prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook before Friday’s game tips off.
Donovan Mitchell best prop bet for February 28
Donovan Mitchell, currently in his eighth year as a pro, has established himself as one of basketball’s premier scorers. The Louisville alum has a career mark of 24.7 points per game, spanning back to his time as a member of the Utah Jazz. The guard has seen a lighter workload this season, due in part to the playmakers at Cleveland’s disposal. Through 55 games, he’s averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field.
Those numbers were good enough to earn Mitchell his sixth All-Star Game selection. Still, it isn’t the output that fans have grown accustomed to seeing. It’s not a surprising result when glancing over the Cavaliers’ schedule. Cleveland has won 21 games by 15 points or more this season, allowing head coach Kenny Atkinson to rest his starters early. A better indicator of Mitchell’s play are his per36 minutes statistics: 27.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
When faced with a high-quality opponent, the Cavs are far more likely to leave their stars on the court. During each of his last three meetings with Boston, Mitchell logged at least 35 minutes. In a game with a spread of less than two points, another nail-biter appears likely. However, extra playing time doesn’t guarantee a gaudy stat line. The Celtics are one of the NBA’s elite defenses, allowing the seventh-fewest points per game (108.9).
While Boston is capable of shutting down most opposing guards, that hasn’t applied to Mitchell. The 28-year-old has scored at least 31 points in six of his last seven meetings with the C’s. It’s never a great feeling to back the over on a prop bet when faced with an elite defense. With that being said, Cleveland’s face of the franchise is at his best when the lights are brightest. Another big-time performance from Mitchell should be expected on Friday.
Best Bet: Donovan Mitchell over 27.5 points (-110)
