Nets vs. Cavaliers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Nets vs. Cavaliers Odds
| Nets Odds | +2 |
| Cavaliers Odds | -2 |
| Over/Under | 221.5 |
| Date | Mon, Dec. 26 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. |
| TV | BSOH |
Following an exciting five-game slate of action on Christmas Day, the NBA returns to the hardwood on Monday with a seven-game slate, beginning with the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Entering play, the Nets and Cavaliers are separated by only one-half game in the Eastern Conference standings, with both teams currently occupying a top-four playoff seed. In this highly-anticipated affair, oddsmakers are expecting a competitive game script, pricing Cleveland as 2-point home favorites on the spread.
Brooklyn Nets
Since November 27, Brooklyn has won 12-of-13 games, ranking second in the NBA in Net Rating in that span, outscoring their opponents by 8.3 points per 100 possessions. In those 13 contests, the Nets rank 28th in three-point attempts per game on the offensive end of the floor, but their league-leading field-goal percentage has enabled this group to thrive, which has resulted in the best offensive efficiency of any team in basketball.
On the defensive end of the floor, Brooklyn has improved significantly compared to their numbers from early in the season, but their ninth-ranked defensive efficiency during their recent hot streak does not exactly earn them the reputation of being a defensive fortress. Though the Nets have won more games than any team in the league across the last month of action, they still remain vulnerable on the perimeter – ranking 12th in opponent three-point percentage during the last 30 days. Defending without fouling continues to plague this group as well, as they are allowing the 11th-most free-throw attempts per game during that time period.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Off-season acquisition Donovan Mitchell continues to thrive in his new home, averaging 29.9 points per game during the month of December. On the season, only seven players are averaging more points per game than Mitchell, who is averaging a career-best 28.9 points per game through his first 30 contests this year. In his last 18 games played, Cleveland is 13-5, with notable victories against the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks (twice), and Milwaukee Bucks.
The Cavaliers enter play this evening with the best home winning percentage in the entire Eastern Conference, winning 16-of-19 games played at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse this year. In those 19 games, Cleveland has outscored their opponents by 9.3 points per 100 possessions, using elite defense to propel their success. The one area of the floor where Cleveland remains vulnerable is the perimeter, where they have allowed opponents to shoot 33.9% against them at home this season. Fortunately for Cleveland, Brooklyn shoots fewer shots from beyond-the-arc than almost any team in the league.
Nets vs. Cavaliers – Picks & Predictions
Since Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving teamed-up prior to the 2020-2021 campaign, bettors have been waiting for the Nets to become an NBA powerhouse. Thus, when Brooklyn starts playing good basketball, a prevailing narrative begins to write itself that this collection of talent is finally living up to the hype. Perhaps overlooked in this matchup is that Brooklyn is not particularly well-equipped to exploit any of Cleveland’s defensive weaknesses. Far from a surprise, the Cavaliers are favored in this spot for good reason. Expect them to defend The Land on Monday evening and to retain control of the third-best record in the Eastern Conference when the final buzzer sounds tonight.
PICK: Cavaliers ML (-124, FanDuel)
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