Portland Trail Blazers vs Cleveland Cavaliers 1/12/23 NBA Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Moda Center on Thursday night in NBA action.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in decent shape as they’ve won four of their last six games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after coming up short to the Jazz in a 116-114 road loss on Tuesday. Donovan Mitchell led the team with 46 points and six assists on 14 of 27 shooting, Darius Garland added 21 points with six assists while Evan Mobley chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. As a team, the Cavaliers shot 46 percent from the field and 10 of 37 from the 3-point line as they clawed their way back from a 13-point deficit to lead by six points in the fourth quarter, only to come up just short as the Jazz responded with a 16-4 run to snatch the game away from them in the end.  

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in a slump as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 games overall and they will be hoping to arrest a four-game slide after falling short to the Magic in a 109-106 loss on Tuesday. Damian Lillard led the way with 30 points and five assists on 12 of 25 shooting, Jusuf Nurkic added 22 points with 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks while Anfernee Simons chipped in with 15 points and seven assists. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 48 percent from the field and six of 35 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to claw their way back from an early 19-point deficit, but their hard work went to waste in the third quarter where the Magic poured in 32 points to jump back in front for good.

Looking at the betting trends, the Cavaliers are 7-18-2 ATS in their last 27 road games, 5-2-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a loss and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Trail Blazers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following a loss and 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall.

Head to head, the under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in Portland and the Cavaliers are 1-7 ATS in the last eight meetings in Portland.

The Cavaliers should have Jarrett Allen back in the lineup and maybe even Ricky Rubio who has been upgraded to questionable for this one, while the Trail Blazers are keeping an eye on Damian Lillard who is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain. The Cavaliers have opened as road favorites and I think it is warranted given how poor the Trail Blazers have been lately and I don’t see it getting better if Lillard has to sit out. The betting trends favor the Trail Blazers, but I’m sticking with the Cavaliers to stay hot with another win and cover at the short line.