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The Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4) meet the Denver Nuggets (16-12) Friday at Ball Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Cavalier vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cavaliers lead 1-0 with a 126-114 home win as a 3.5-point favorite on Dec. 5 as the Over (232) cashed
The Cavaliers topped the Utah Jazz Monday prior to the Christmas break, but Cleveland failed to cover as a 14-point favorite as the Over (232.5) cashed. The Cavs are still 3-1 ATS in the past 4 games, while winning 5 in a row. The Over is also 4-0 in the past 4 outings, while going 7-1 across the previous 8 contests.
The Nuggets suffered a 110-100 loss on Christmas Day in Phoenix, failing to cover as a 2.5-point favorite as the Under (232.5) cashed in both games of the home-and-home with the Suns. The Over is still 5-3-1 across the past 9 outings for Denver.
Cavaliers at Nuggets 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 10:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Nuggets +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Against the spread: Cavaliers -2.5 (-115) | Nuggets +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 235.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cavaliers at Nuggets key injuries
Cavaliers
- G Isaac Okoro (shoulder) out
- F Dean Wade (knee) questionable
Nuggets
- F Vlatko Cancar (knee) out
- F Aaron Gordon (calf) out
- G Jamal Murray (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Cavaliers at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 123, Nuggets 116
Moneyline
The CAVALIERS (-145) are worth a look if you’re a little on the conservative side, and you’d rather not lay the points, too.
The Nuggets (+120) will have to take on the team with the league’s best record without Gordon, and that’s a big absence for the home side, as he averages 13.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3.1 APG.
Against the spread
The CAVALIERS -2.5 (-115) are a better value if you’re not so conservative. Going into Denver to face the Nuggets +2.5 (-115) is no easy feat, and you know C Nikola Jokic is always going to have a big stat line. But, Denver is without one of its key pieces in Gordon, and that helps.
The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing 110-100 loss in Phoenix on Christmas Day despite the fact the Suns were shorthanded without G Devin Booker.
Over/Under
OVER 235.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Cleveland offense has been putting up gaudy numbers lately, posting 124 or more points in each of the previous 4 outings, while getting to 113 or more points in all 10 games in December. The Over is on a 4-0 run, while cashing in 7 of the past 8 outings. That includes the first meeting with the Nuggets in Cleveland on Dec. 5.
For Denver, it has cashed low in the past 2 games, but the Over has a 9-6-1 edge in the past 16 outings since Nov. 19.
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