| Game Time | 7:00 pm EST |
| Denver Nuggets Line | +3.5 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers Line | -3.5 |
| Total | 234.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
The best team in the whole NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will be hosting the Denver Nuggets in this high caliber matchup. The Cavs bounced back after suffering back-to-back losses against the Hawks, and have now won two straight and are looking to extend their winning streak today at home. The Nuggets are starting a four-game road trip in the East, and are still struggling to find stability, as they haven’t won or lost a second consecutive game for the past two weeks.
Below is a detailed analysis for Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers game.
Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report: Ty Jerome is day-to-day, Emoni Bates and Max Strus are out
Denver Nuggets Injury Report: Daron Holmes and Vlatko Cancar are out
Cleveland Cavaliers Recent Form and Trends
The Cavaliers have a 19-3 record this season and are sitting on the first place of the East. They are 16-6 against the spread and 13-9 in over/under. Cleveland has a 12-1 home record, but 10-3 against the spread with a +13.2-point differential. The Cavaliers are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are 7-2 against the spread in their last 9. Under is 3-0 in their last 3 games.
The Cavaliers are coming off 118-87 win over Washington, as they held the Wizards into just 39% shooting from the field and 15% from downtown. Seven of Cleveland’s players reached double digits in scoring, led by Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell with 19 points apiece.
Mitchell leads the Cavaliers in scoring with 24.3 points, adding 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Darius Garland adds 20.3 points and a team-high 6.7 assists per game.
Denver Nuggets Recent Form and Trends
The Nuggets have a 11-8 record this season and are sitting on the 8th place of the West. Denver is 7-11-1 against the spread and 12-7 in over/under. The Nuggets have a 5-4 road record but are 4-5 against the spread with a +3.8-point differential. Denver is 3-1 in their last 4 road games and 3-6 against the spread in their last 9 games. Under is 4-2 in their last 6 road games.
Denver is coming off a 119-115 win over Golden State, shooting with 51% from the field and 46% from beyond the arc. All of Denver’s starters scored double digits, led once again by Nikola Jokic with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
Jokic leads Denver in scoring with an average of 30.1 points, in rebounding with 13 and in assists made with 10.4. Michael Porter Jr adds 18.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Cavaliers lead the league with 121.8 points per game. The Cavs boast the best percentages both in field goals, with 50.9%, and in 3-pointers, with 40.2%. Defensively, they rank 11th in the NBA, allowing 111.3 points per game.
Offensively, the Nuggets are averaging 118.1 points per game, which is the 6th-best in the NBA. Denver shoots with 48.6% from the field (4th), and with 39.3% from beyond the arc, which is the 4th-best in the league. Defensively, they are allowing 116.3 points per game, which ranks 24th in the NBA.
The Nuggets lead the Cavs 3-1 wins in their last 4 meetings, but the Cavs are 3-1 in their last 4 meetings in Cleveland. Over is 4-0-1 in their last 5 meetings.
Prediction
In this Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, the Cavaliers are coming as -3.5 home favorites. The Cavaliers are rightfully favored as they are the team with the best record in the NBA, but the Nuggets have all the potential to make this a close game, so I will not pick a side in this game. Both teams have been elite offensively, as the Cavs lead the league in points scored and in both shooting percentages, while the Nuggets have been very good as well, having the 6th-best offense and the 4th-best shooting percentages, combining them with a poor defense, which is the 7th-worst in the NBA. Both teams are 25-16 to the over this season and both of their meetings last season went over the total. I expect another high scoring game and taking the over the total in this one.
Nick’s Pick: Over 234.5