The Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers meet Friday in NBA action at the Rocket Arena. Here’s a Cavaliers vs Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a Cavaliers vs Nuggets Pick.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets lost to the Heat, beat the Raptors, and they play the Nets next. The Nuggets have won 25 of their last 36 regular season games.
The Denver Nuggets are averaging 125.1 points on 51.1 percent shooting and allowing 118 points on 47.1 percent shooting. Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.6 points and 12.2 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 25.2 points and 4.4 rebounds. Aaron Gordon is the third double-digit scorer, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is grabbing 2.3 rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 82.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Denver Nuggets are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.1 rebounds per game.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Spurs and Suns, and they play the Pistons next. The Cavs have lost 10 of their last 17 games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are averaging 119.7 points on 46.4 percent shooting and allowing 117.1 points on 46.4 percent shooting. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 29.7 points and 5.5 assists, while Evan Mobley is averaging 18.2 points and 4 assists. Darius Garland is the third double-digit scorer and De’Andre Hunter is grabbing 4.2 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers are shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 78.4 percent from the free throw line. The Cleveland Cavaliers are allowing 37.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.8 rebounds per game.
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win
- The Nuggets have lost each of their last six road games after winning as underdogs.
- The Cavaliers have won seven of their last eight home games against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six road games against Eastern Conference opponents following a win.
- The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last five home games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Nuggets’ last five games.
- The Cavaliers have lost three of their last five games as favorites following a win.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in four of the Nuggets’ last five games.
- The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in 18 of their last 23 home games following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the last seven games between the Nuggets and Cavaliers have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Nuggets’ last four games at Rocket Arena have gone OVER the total points line.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Facts
- Dean Wade has recorded 19 games with 1+ assists and zero turnovers this season – equal-most of any player in the league.
- Donovan Mitchell ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for three-pointers made per game (3.9) this season.
Denver Nuggets Player Facts
- Spencer Jones has played the most minutes in a single game without making a field goal of any player in the league this season – 37:47 against Raptors on December 31.
- Peyton Watson is one of only 13 qualified Guards in the league shooting at least 50% from the field this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cavaliers rank 30th in the league for Q2 points per game this season (27.1).
- The Cavaliers rank 1st in the league for Q4 points per game this season (30.3).
- The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for points per game this season (125.1).
- The Nuggets rank 30th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (12.3).
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Injury Report
The Cavs will be without Larry Nance Jr. and Max Strus. Sam Merrill and De’Andre Hunter are questionable.
Christian Braun, Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, Cameron Johnson, Tamar Bates, and Aaron Gordon are out for the Nuggets.
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Prediction
You can talk yourself into the Nuggets and the points, as we’ve been fading the Cavs all season with their 12-23 ATS record. The Cavaliers are the worst team in the NBA ATS this season. However, nearly the entire Nuggets’ rotation is out, and it’s going to be hard to compete.
The numbers suggest the Nuggets aren’t a playoff team without Jokic, but now they’re without Jokic and countless others. If the Cavs are serious about turning their season around and really aren’t as bad as their first 35 games, this is a spot they win comfortably. The Nuggets aren’t fielding an NBA roster right now. It’s Cavs or pass.