The Cleveland Cavaliers (23-18) travel to Salt Lake City Wednesday for a 9 p.m. ET game against the Utah Jazz (28-13) at Vivint Arena. Below, we look at the Cavaliers vs. Jazz odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Cleveland has alternated between winning and losing across its last six games with the most recent being a 109-108 victory at the Sacramento Kings Monday. However, the Cavs failed to cover as 5-point road favorites.
Cleveland is 3-5 straight-up (SU), 1-6-1 ATS and 3-5 O/U with the 20th-ranked non-garbage time net rating at minus-3.9 points per 100 possessions over the last two weeks, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Utah closed out its five-game road trip losing with three consecutive losses at the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.
The Jazz are 4-4 SU, 3-4-1 ATS and 5-3 O/U with the 15th-ranked non-garbage time net rating at plus-0.7 points per 100 possessions in the last 14 days, per CTG.
The Jazz eked past the Cavs 109-108 as 5-point favorites in their first meeting this season, Dec. 5. Utah has won seven consecutive meetings with Cleveland (5-1-1 ATS) and the total is 2-4-1 O/U in those games.
Cavaliers at Jazz 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 at 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cavaliers +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Jazz -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers +6.5 (-110) | Jazz -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cavaliers at Jazz key injuries
Cavaliers
- SF Isaac Okoro (elbow) out
Jazz
- C Rudy Gobert (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Rudy Gay (health and safety protocols) out
- SF Joe Ingles (reconditioning) questionable
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Cavaliers at Jazz odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 112, Jazz 110
Money line
Slight “LEAN” to the CAVALIERS (+220) because Utah isn’t the same team without Gobert and Cleveland has an awesome frontcourt to exploit his absence.
Gobert has been out with COVID-19 for the previous four games. The Jazz are 1-3 SU without Gobert and have lost the last three games — two of which were against teams with a losing record. Utah has surrendered at least 122 points in each of its last three games.
Gobert is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has the fourth-best on/off net rating (first among centers) and grades in the 98th percentile of bigs in adjusted on/off defensive rating, per CTG.
The Cavs have a unique makeup with three 6-foot-10 or taller bigs in its starting 5.
Cleveland rookie PF Evan Mobley is a rookie of the year candidate through the first 40 games and C Jarrett Allen is having the best year of his career.
The long frontcourt helps it extend the perimeter defense, which is a big reason Cleveland has the fifth-best defensive 3-point percentage in the NBA.
Again, only SPRINKLE on the CAVALIERS (+220), if at all, and bet more on Cleveland’s spread.
Against the spread
Definitely BET the CAVALIERS +6.5 (-110) heavier than or instead of their money line because this is just a better spot for Cleveland.
The Cavs are 8-2 ATS on the road versus teams with a winning record, 7-3 ATS when getting spotted 5-7 points and 10-5-1 ATS as a road underdog with a plus-7.8 ATS margin.
Whereas the Jazz are 2-6 ATS at home versus teams with a winning record and 8-13 ATS as a home favorite with a minus-2.3 ATS margin.
The CAVALIERS +6.5 (-110) is my favorite wager in this game.
Over/Under
PASS ON THE TOTAL. My prediction is too close to the projected total so there’s no value in me betting this line.
If anything, I “lean” to the Over 221.5 (-110) because of Utah’s aforementioned defensive woes without Gobert on the floor and the Jazz are 14-7 O/U at home with a plus-5.7 total margin.
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