The Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4) and Denver Nuggets (16-12) are set to meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in the Mile High City. The game will broadcast live on NBA League Pass.
The Cavaliers are 3-point road favorites over the Nuggets on the spread, with the over/under set at 237.5 total points. Cleveland is a -155 favorite to win outright, while Denver is +130 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Cavaliers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 27.
Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Prediction, Picks
Spread
My Nuggets vs. Cavaliers best bet is Cleveland -2.5 (-115), with the best line currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Moneyline
My best bet for this contest is on the Cavs to cover the spread. However, I will also be taking some exposure on the Cleveland moneyline as a part of my same game parlay for Friday night.
Over/Under
Per usual, I'm staying away from the total in this matchup.
My Pick: Cavaliers -2.5 (-115)
Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -108 | 237.5 -110 / -110 | -155 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -112 | 237.5 -110 / -110 | +130 |
- Cavaliers vs. Nuggets spread: Cavaliers -3
- Cavaliers vs. Nuggets over/under: 237.5 total points
- Cavaliers vs. Nuggets moneyline: Cavaliers -155, Cavaliers +130
- Cavaliers vs. Nuggets best bet: Cavaliers -2.5 (-115)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets Preview
The Cavaliers face off against the Nuggets in Denver for this Friday night showdown. Cleveland rolled to a 12-point victory earlier this month while dominating from beyond the arc. Cleveland made 22 3-pointers while Denver attempted only 23 – it's nearly impossible to win with that type of math advantage.
Denver is dealing with a critical injury to Aaron Gordon (calf) who has been ruled out for this game, and Jamal Murray (ankle) is also on the injury report, but is listed as Probable for tonight's contest. Cleveland may be without Dean Wade as well (knee – Questionable), but that's an easier absence to handle.
Cleveland has been one of the league's best teams this season, with a 26-4 record and the third-best Adjusted Net Rating in the league.
Their defense is strong, but they are winning these games with an overpowering offense which is tied with Boston, and New York for the best Adjusted Offensive Rating, per Dunks and Threes.
Denver has been a bit inconsistent this season with a 16-12 record but still have the league's 9th-best Adjusted Net Rating on the season. However, they have been better at home with an 8-4 record at Ball Arena.
Gordon is a clear plus for Denver and the team has a +9.3 Net Rating when he is on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Without him, we will likely see more of Peyton Watson at the 4-spot, with an uptick in minutes for Westbrook and Strawther as well.
A major issue for Denver is that they take the lowest frequency of 3-point attempts in the league with just 30.9% of their shots coming from beyond the arc.
Compare this to the league average of 39.1% and Cleveland at 41.7%. It's a difficult math situation for Denver from beyond the arc. However, they relentlessly attack the rim with the highest Rim rate in the league.
Cleveland presents a tougher matchup because they defend the rim the best in the NBA, and even though they struggle on the perimeter, this is less of an issue against a team with Denver's shot profile.
Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Best Bets, Predictions
This is a tough matchup for Denver, and without Gordon, it becomes even more difficult. I'll back Cleveland in this spot despite being favored on the road in this spot.
For my same game parlay, let's look for a little negative correlation with Cleveland Moneyline, Nikola Jokic 12+ Rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell 20+ Points in a plus-matchup for each of them tonight.
Best Bet: Cavaliers -2.5
Nuggets vs. Cavaliers Parlay Picks
- Cavaliers Moneyline
- Nikola Jokic 12+ Rebounds
- Donovan Mitchell 20+ Points
Parlay Payout: +245
