NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game that might decide the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Right now, the Cavs hold that place, but if they lose tonight, the franchise from Brooklyn will level with the team from Ohio. Also, both of these units still have theoretical prospects to clinch the sixth seed and a direct place in the playoffs. Yet, in order of doing that, the Bulls would have to lose all their games until the end of the campaign, while the chasers need to win each one.

Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers (43-37, +365) is in bad form, winning only one game in the previous five and two in the latest nine. There isn’t a worse timing this year for them to lose the pace, with the play-in (Playoff) just behind the corner.

Cleveland’s latest defeat came against the Magic in Florida on Tuesday night, 120-115. Both sides traded blows, but in the end, the hosts had more power in the end, and they managed to break the Cavs’ resistance and secure a victory. Though we need to add that Cleveland had its moments, but simply, JB Bickerstaff’s guys failed to utilize them.

Darius Garland was the top scorer among the guests with 27 buckets. The young point guard also added 10 assists and six boards, having just one turnover throughout 41 minutes. Lauri Markannen scored 25, hitting six threes, while Kevin Love got off the bench to add a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards. Both Allen and Mobley were out.

Brooklyn Nets (42-38, -450) posted back-to-back wins, after two losses in a row. Steve Nash’s crew was victorious against Houston Rockets at home, 118-105, and against the New York Knicks on the road, 110-98.

The Nets were down 17 at halftime, but superb Kevin Durant went wild in the second half, and the guests outscored the Knicks 60-31 in those 24 minutes. They rolled over the hosts in the final period, closing the game with an 18-5 run.

KD ended the contest with 32 points 10 boards and 11 assists, recording a triple-double in 42 minutes of play. Kyrie scored 24 buckets with seven assists and eight rebounds, while Patty Mills had 15 (all three-pointers), the same as Seth Curry. Durant and Irving shot from behind the arc 5-for-22 and were pretty frustrated with this.

Head to Head Games

The Nets won the opening two meetings, the one at home, 109-99 and on Cleveland, 117-112, while the third one, which was also in Ohio, saw the hosts beating the team from the Big Apple, 114-107.

Prediction

The Cavs will again be without both of their big guys, Allen and Mobley. This is a great handicap for this unit, because the mentioned two are one of the best paint and rim-protecting duos in the NBA. Their absence will undoubtedly make things much easier for Kyrie and KD. That and the fact that the Cavaliers currently aren’t playing good basketball is enough for us to suggest betting on the home team’s victory. Brooklyn has to win this one.

Pick: Nets win