Cleveland Cavaliers odds line spread pick predictions best bets

Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (32-21) host the Indiana Pacers (19-35) Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Pacers vs. Cavaliers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Indiana has lost three of its past four, including back-to-back home games versus the Orlando Magic (119-118 Wednesday) and Chicago Bulls (122-115 Friday). Over the past two weeks, the Pacers are 2-5 straight up (SU) and 2-4-1 against the spread (ATS).

Cleveland has alternated between winning and losing over the past five games with the most recent being a 102-101 victory versus the Hornets in Charlotte. The Cavs are 4-2 SU but just 2-4 ATS in the last 14 days.

The Cavs defeated the Pacers 108-104 in Cleveland, Jan. 2, and pushed as 4-point home favorites with the Over cashing on a 207.5-point total.

Pacers at Cavaliers 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 12 p.m. ET.

Money line: Pacers +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Cavaliers -230 (bet $230 to win $100)
Against the spread: Pacers +5.5 (-112) | Cavaliers -5.5 (-108)
Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Pacers at Cavaliers key injuries

Pacers

PG Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles’) questionable
PG Domantas Sabonis (health and safety protocols) questionable
C Myles Turner (foot) out
C Goga Bitadze (foot) questionable

Cavaliers

PG Darius Garland (back) questionable
PF Lauri Markkanen (ankle) out

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Pacers at Cavaliers odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Cavaliers 108, Pacers 101

Money line

PASS.

I only “lean” to Cleveland laying points and cannot justify betting the Cavaliers (-230) given the uncertainty surrounding both teams’ injury reports.

Against the spread

“LEAN” to the CAVALIERS -5.5 (-108) because the Pacers +5.5 (-112) struggle against quality defenses, and Cleveland is third in defensive rating.

For instance, Indiana has a minus-7.7 adjusted net rating versus top-10 defenses (ranked 23rd) and a minus-4.1 ATS margin (ranked 23rd), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).

Furthermore, the Cavs are 15-9-1 ATS at home with an NBA-best plus-5.1 ATS margin while the Pacers are 11-13-2 ATS on the road and 3-7 ATS versus Central Division co-tenants.

Lastly, both teams attempt a lot of shots at the rim and attack the paint. But, Cleveland has a better offensive and defensive field goal percentage at the rim (per CTG), and Indiana is 26th in paint points per game allowed.

It’s only a “LEAN” to the CAVALIERS -5.5 (-108) because Cleveland is 0-6 ATS in the last six games as a favorite.

Over/Under

“LEAN” to the UNDER 216.5 (-112) for several reasons.

First of all, the Cavs are 7-17-1 O/U at home with a minus-4.1 total margin and the Pacers are 6-12 O/U as a road underdog with a minus-3.8 total margin.

Second, roughly two-thirds of the public is betting the Over (according to Pregame.com), and my instinct is to fade a one-sided betting market.

Also, each team could be without significant offensive pieces, and even if said players return, it might take them a few quarters or games to knock off rust.

That said, Indiana hasn’t been able to defend anyone recently, which is the major reason the Pacers are 6-0-1 O/U in their last seven games.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21) head to the Spectrum Center Friday to play the Charlotte Hornets (28-24) at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Cavaliers vs. Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Cleveland was upset 115-104 by the Rockets in Houston as 5-point road favorites Wednesday. Over the past two weeks, the Cavs are 4-2 straight up (SU) but just 1-5 against the spread (ATS).

Charlotte has lost back-to-back games over the Los Angeles Clippers (115-90 Sunday) and at the Boston Celtics (113-107 Tuesday). The Hornets are 3-4 SU and ATS in the last 14 days.

These teams split the first two meetings this season 1-1 SU and ATS with the road team winning and covering both. Each Cavaliers-Hornets contest this season has gone Over the total.

Cavaliers at Hornets 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 1:30 p.m. ET.

Money line: Cavaliers +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Hornets -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
Against the spread: Cavaliers +4.5 (-105) | Hornets -4.5 (-120)
Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Cavaliers at Hornets key injuries

Cavaliers

PG Darius Garland (back) out
PF Lauri Markkanen (ankle) out

Hornets

SF Gordon Hayward (reconditioning) questionable
SF Jalen McDaniels (ankle) out

Cavaliers at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Hornets 108, Cavaliers 106

Money line

PASS.

Heavy “lean” towards the Cavs (+165) because I like Cleveland plus the points, and I’ll sometimes sprinkle on an underdog’s money line when betting them to cover.

However, my favorite play in this contest is the OVER so I’d prefer to save my bankroll for that wager.

Against the spread

“LEAN” to the CAVALIERS +4.5 (-105).

Both teams are far more profitable as underdogs. In fact, Cleveland is 18-8-1 against the spread (ATS) as an underdog with a plus-6.8 ATS margin.

Furthermore, Charlotte underperforms versus teams in the top 10 of defensive rating, and Cleveland is third in defensive rating.

For instance, the Hornets are 7-13 SU versus top-10 defenses with a minus-5.7 adjusted net rating (ranked 22nd) and a minus-3.5 ATS margin (ranked 21st), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).

On top of that, Cleveland beats up on bad defenses, and Charlotte is 26th in defensive rating. The Cavs are 12-5 SU versus bottom-10 defenses with a plus-3.8 adjusted net rating and plus-1.8 ATS margin, per CTG.

But, it’s only a “LEAN” to the CAVALIERS +4.5 (-105) since the Hornets are 9-1 ATS at home versus teams with a winning record, and I prefer the Over.

Over/Under

GIMME the UNDER 216.5 (-110) for 1 unit because both teams could struggle offensively for different reasons, and we have an Under-friendly officiating crew.

First of all, the Cavs are missing their two best offensive players by adjusted on/off points per 100 possessions scored, per CTG.

Garland is Cleveland’s floor general and leading scorer while Markkanen is your prototypical stretch-4 that can space the floor.

On top of that, Cleveland’s murky ball security could be an even bigger factor against Charlotte.

The Hornets are fourth in offensive turnover rate (TOV%) and seventh in defensive TOV% while the Cavs are 28th in offensive TOV%.

In Charlotte’s case, Cleveland plays good defense in transition, defensive rebounds and protects the paint, which are all strengths for the Hornets.

Lastly, the assigned officiating crew for the Cavaliers-Hornets has a combined 47-63 O/U record, and neither team gets to the charity stripe often.

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New Orleans Pelicans at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s New Orleans Pelicans at Cleveland Cavaliers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (30-20) host the New Orleans Pelicans (18-31) Monday at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the Pelicans vs. Cavaliers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

NOLA has lost three consecutive games with the latest being a 107-97 home loss as a 7-point underdog to the Boston Celtics Saturday. The Pelicans are 2-4 straight up (SU) and 2-3-1 against the spread (ATS) over the past two weeks.

Cleveland had a three-game winning streak snapped Sunday after losing at the Detroit Pistons 115-105 as a 7.5-point favorite. The Cavs are 4-2 SU and 2-4 ATS in the last 14 days.

The Pelicans (+4.5) rallied back from a 19-point, first-quarter deficit to upset the Cavs 108-104 in their first head-to-head meeting this season Dec. 28 with the Over (210) cashing.

However, Cleveland was without PG Darius Garland and C Jarrett Allen, while NOLA was missing SF Brandon Ingram and SG Josh Hart.

Pelicans at Cavaliers 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 1 p.m. ET.

Money line: Pelicans +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Cavaliers -340 (bet $340 to win $100)
Against the spread: Pelicans +7.5 (-115) | Cavaliers -7.5 (-107)
Over/Under (O/U): 210.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Pelicans at Cavaliers key injuries

Pelicans

SG Josh Hart (knee) questionable
SF Brandon Ingram (ankle) questionable
C Jonas Valanciunas (illness) questionable

Cavaliers

PF Lauri Markkanen (ankle) out

Pelicans at Cavaliers odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Cavaliers 105, Pelicans 101

Money line

PASS with a heavy “lean” toward the Pelicans (+260) since I’m taking NOLA plus the points. Typically, I’ll sprinkle on an underdog’s money line when betting it to cover the spread.

But until NOLA’s official starting 5 is announced I cannot make an ML wager in this game. However, there has been line movement toward the Pelicans since they opened as +280 underdogs.

I’d assume that line movement is due to anticipation that NOLA will receive good injury luck for this game.

Three Pelicans starters are listed on the injury report as “questionable” and all three have a plus-11.0 points per 100 possessions adjusted on/off net rating or higher, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).

Against the spread

LEAN to the PELICANS +7.5 (-115) for a half-unit, which would be upgraded to a full-unit wager if Hart, Ingram and Valanciunas are active.

NOLA’s regular starting 5 scores 11.7 more points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time, which grades in the 68th percentile of lineups.

Also, the Pelicans have beaten the Cavs in seven consecutive meetings and has covered in five of those wins.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 210.5 (-112). The Pelicans are 1-5 O/U in their last six games as underdogs, the Cavs are 0-4 O/U in their last four as home favorites and both teams play at a bottom-10 pace.

If Ingram and Valanciunas play, NOLA will play more half-court basketball. If they don’t play, the Pelicans will be missing their top-two scorers.

Both teams have top-10 rebounding rates, are top 10 in second-chance points per game (PPG) allowed and are above-average in paint PPG allowed.

Lastly, there’s been a sharp line move heading south of the total as it opened at 212.5 before being steamed down to the current number.

UNDER 210.5 (-112) is my favorite wager in this game.

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If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Milwaukee Bucks (30-19) meet Cleveland Cavaliers (29-19) in a Central Division showdown Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bucks vs. Cavaliers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Milwaukee won its third straight game Saturday by beating the Sacramento Kings, 133-127, but failed to cover as 8-point home favorites. The Bucks are 5-5 straight-up (SU) and 3-7 against the spread (ATS).

Cleveland has won seven of its past eight games including two straight with the latest being a 95-93 victory over the New York Knicks. But, the Cavs have lost ATS in their last three games and are just 4-5-1 ATS in the last 10.

The Cavs are 1-1 straight-up (SU) but 2-0 ATS in their two meetings with the Bucks this season. Cleveland’s 119-90 victory, Dec. 18, snapped Milwaukee’s 8-game winning streak in their head-to-head series (6-2 ATS).

However, the Bucks were without all of their Big 3 (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday) in the Cavs’ victory.

Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA January 26 breakdown

Bucks at Cavaliers 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 2 p.m. ET.

Money line: Bucks -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Cavaliers +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -4.5 (-110) | Cavaliers +4.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 218.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)

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Bucks at Cavaliers key injuries

Bucks

SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) probable
SG Grayson Allen (league suspension) out

Cavaliers

C Jarrett Allen (illness) questionable
SF Lauri Markkanen (ankle) out

Bucks at Cavaliers odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Bucks 115, Cavs 107

Money line

PASS even though I have Milwaukee winning this one handily because the Bucks (-190) is just too far out of my price range. Typically, -150 is the most I’d pay for an outright winner in NBA regular-season action.

Against the spread

BET the BUCKS -4.5 (-110) because this line feels cheap for a Milwaukee team that’s at full health and well-rested.

In fact, Milwaukee has been at least a double-digit favorite in seven of the last nine meetings with Cleveland. Granted, the Cavs are one of the surprise teams through the first half of the season.

But, Milwaukee hasn’t played since Saturday, and the main reason they didn’t beat the Kings worse was Giannis took the night off.

When Giannis, Middleton and Holiday are all on the floor, Milwaukee has a plus-10.9 adjusted net rating, which would grade in the 95th percentile of lineups (CTG).

Furthermore, Giannis and Middleton are having their best months of the season in Jan. Giannis is averaging 31.6 points per game (PPG) on 52.6% shooting with 10.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and a plus-17 net rating this month.

While Middleton is averaging 23.5 PPG on 63.5% true shooting (.486/.457/.902) with 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a plus-9 net rating.

Finally, Cleveland could be missing two frontcourt starters and will definitely be without Markkanen, who is third on the Cavs with a plus-4.5 adjusted on/off net rating. If Allen misses Wednesday’s game, the Bucks will dominate the Cavs on the boards.

BET the BUCKS -4.5 (-110).

Over/Under

Slight “LEAN” to the OVER 218.5 (-107) for a tiny wager, if at all, because the Bucks scored at least 123 points in two of their three meetings with the Cavs last season.

Milwaukee’s lineup Wednesday will closely resemble last season’s squad more so than the Bucks team that played Cleveland earlier this season.

However, both teams rank in the top-seven in defensive rating, Cleveland is 1-6 O/U in its last seven versus teams with a 60.0% winning rate or better and the Under is 3-1-1 in the last five Bucks-Cavaliers meetings.

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If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Dallas Mavericks odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Monday’s Cleveland Cavaliers at Dallas Mavericks odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (10-10) stop by American Airlines Center Monday for an 8:30 p.m. ET game against the Dallas Mavericks (10-8). Below, we look at the Cavaliers vs. Mavericks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.

Cleveland snapped its five-game losing skid Saturday with a 105-92 home victory over the Orlando Magic. The Cavs are 13-7 ATS and 7-13 O/U with the 16th-best net rating (plus-0.5).

Dallas has lost four of its past five games (3-2 ATS), which includes a 120-114 loss at home Saturday to the Washington Wizards. The Mavs are 8-10 ATS and 7-10-1 O/U with the 22nd-ranked net rating (minus-1.6).

The Mavs have a six-game winning streak over the Cavs (5-0-1 ATS) and the Over cashed in four of those contests.

Cavaliers at Mavericks odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:05 p.m. ET.

Money line: Cavaliers +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Mavericks -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers +6.5 (-110) | Mavericks -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 210.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)

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Cavaliers at Mavericks key injuries

Cavaliers

SF Cedi Osman (back) questionable

Mavericks

PG Jalen Brunson (foot) probable
C Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) questionable

Cavaliers at Mavericks odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Mavericks 108, Cavaliers 105

Money line

PASS on the Cavaliers (+220) since I only “lean” to Cleveland plus the points and don’t see enough value on the underdog to sprinkle on the money line.

Against the spread

“LEAN” to the CAVALIERS +6.5 (-110) because Cleveland has a higher net rating, plays very well as a road underdog and there’s “reverse line movement” in Cleveland’s direction.

For instance, the Cavs are 6-2-1 ATS as a road underdog with a plus-8.4 ATS margin whereas the Mavs have the fourth-worst cover rate as a home favorite since the beginning of last year at 13-21 ATS with a minus-4.3 ATS margin.

Furthermore, Dallas opened as a 7-point favorite, and despite getting a vast majority of the action, the Mavs’ spread has been lowered to the current price.

On top of that, Cleveland matches up well stylistically vs. Dallas. The Cavs attempt the fourth-highest volume of shots at the rim and the Mavs are 26th in defensive field goal percentage vs. attempts at the rim, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.

Also, Luka Doncic plays the sixth-highest frequency of isolation offense and Cleveland’s defense ranks seventh in efficiency vs. isolation offense. Plus I think it’s easier for Cleveland’s perimeter defense to stay in front of a slow-paced Dallas offense since the Cavs have a lot of size in their frontcourt.

Over/Under

Slight “LEAN” to the OVER 210.5 (-107) for a tiny wager if at all because the market has steamed the Cavaliers-Mavericks total up from the 205.5-point lookahead number.

This line movement is puzzling because both teams have a below-average offensive rating and are bottom-seven in pace. Yet the total has increased?

I’d be more into betting the Over if we weren’t late to the party. My favorite play is Cleveland plus the points, but there’s value in OVER 210.5 (-107).

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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