The Cleveland Cavaliers (24-18) travel to AT&T Center Friday to take on the San Antonio Spurs (15-26). Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Cavaliers vs. Spurs odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Cavaliers are currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and come in with a 13-9 record on the road. Behind All-Star hopeful C Jarrett Allen, they’ve been the best covering team in the NBA at 27-13-2 ATS. The Cavaliers have an average margin of victory of 5.1.
This is the fifth game of Cleveland’s six-game Western Conference road trip. The Cavs are 2-2 ATS so far, covering against the Blazers and Jazz and failing to against the Warriors and Kings.
As for the Spurs, they sit 13th in the East and are just 7-11 at home. San Antonio has lost four straight, covering just once in a 2-point loss to the Nets. While the Spurs have been disappointing this season, they’re 22-19 ATS and San Antonio among the 13 teams covering at over a 50% clip.
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Cavaliers at Spurs odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 1:16 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Cavaliers -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Spurs +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers -3.5 (-115) | Spurs +3.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 220.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cavaliers at Spurs key injuries
Cavaliers
- G Rajon Rondo (hamstring) questionable
- G Isaac Okoro (elbow) questionable
Spurs
- G Derrick White (health and safety protocols) questionable
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Cavaliers at Spurs odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 108, Spurs 102
Money line
PASS on the money line.
While I do like this situation for Cleveland, especially given the potential absence of White, I’d only play their money line value over their spread if it dipped to -140 or lower.
Similarly, San Antonio has been too disappointing this season to bet on at (+133).
Against the spread
“LEAN” on the CAVALIERS -3.5 (-115). Getting the juice here, the sportsbooks are clearly favoring the Cavs to cover, as they’ve done for much of the season.
Their length, with both Cavs PF Evan Mobley and Allen in the paint, has disrupted teams, and while the Spurs are deep, they ask too much of their guards, especially going against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.
The Spurs are 27th in second-chance points allowed per game in the NBA, and against a side with two dominant bigs, I expect Cleveland to abuse them on the boards.
The Cavaliers are 3-2 ATS as road favorites while the Spurs are 5-5 ATS as home underdogs. I’d back Cleveland to cover here, especially considering the Spurs’ recent struggles.
Over/Under
BET on the UNDER 221.5 (-112). The Cavaliers have one of the best defenses in the NBA, and that should be in full effect Friday night.
While the Spurs don’t shoot too many 3-pointers nor get to the foul line, they do lead the league in field goals made per game. The Cavaliers rank seventh in defensive field goal percentage and have the third-best defensive rating.
San Antonio is 22-17-2 O/U this season, but the Cavs have the third-lowest Over percentage, sitting at just 15-26-1 O/U.
Their defense has been terrific, and I expect it to limit the Spurs. The implied score here is around 112-109. I don’t see either team quite scoring that much.
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