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The Cleveland Cavaliers (17-2) and Atlanta Hawks (8-11) meet at State Farm Arena in an In-Season Tournament game Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Cavaliers vs. Hawks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Hawks lead 1-0 after 135-124 victory in Cleveland on Wednesday as a 9-point underdog as the Over (242.5) cashed
The Cavaliers haven’t lost consecutive games at any point this season. The Wedneaday loss halted a 5-game cover streak. The Over has cashed at a 7-1 rate in the previous 8 contests.
The Hawks snapped a 3-game losing streak with the shocking win in Cleveland prior to Thanksgiving. It was their first cover after an 0-3 against the spread (ATS) skid, while the Over has connected in 3 straight outings.
Atlanta has won 2 straight meetings with Cleveland, including a 112-101 victory March 6 in the most recent meeting at State Farm Arena. The Hawks are also 6-4 SU in the past 10 meetings, while the teams are 5-5 ATS in the 10-game span. The Under is 4-2 in the past 6 games, and 6-3 across the previous 9 contests.
Cavaliers at Hawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 8:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Hawks +190 (bet $100 to win $190)
- Against the spread: Cavaliers -5.5 (-115) | Hawks +5.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 245.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Cavaliers at Hawks key injuries
Cavaliers
- G Caris LeVert (knee) questionable
- F Max Strus (ankle) out
- F Dean Wade (ankle) out
Hawks
- G Trae Young (Achilles) probable
- C Cody Zeller (personal) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Cavaliers at Hawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 126, Hawks 117
Moneyline
The Cavaliers (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too much risk for not enough reward.
We just saw why backing such a heavy favorite is such a bad idea on Wednesday, when Cleveland lost outright at home as a giant favorite over the Hawks (+190).
PASS.
Against the spread
Play CAVALIERS -5.5 (-115) in this rematch in an NBA Cup battle. The Hawks +5.5 (-105) have been a major thorn in the side of Cleveland, but they can’t win in back-to-back games, right?
Atlanta is 1-3 SU/ATS in the past 4 games despite the upset win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday in Cleveland.
Over/Under
UNDER 245.5 (-115) is the play in Friday’s rematch.
There is no way to justify betting an Over total so high. Yes, we saw 259 combined points in the front end of the home-and-home set.
However, Atlanta has allowed 120 or more points in 4 consecutive outings, while going for at least 119 points. This definitely won’t being a defensive slog, but 246 or more is quite a lot.
For Cleveland, the Over is on a 6-1 run in the past 7 games, going for at least 114 points in 8 consecutive outings. However, the defense has allowed 108 or fewer points in 3 of the past 7 outings.
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