Free NBA Pick: Cavaliers vs. Suns NBA Odds
Looking for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Cavaliers taking on the Suns on Sunday, January 8th, 2021 at the Footprint Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Cavaliers-Suns matchup.
2023 NBA Handicapping
(25-15) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns (20-20)
Date: Sunday, January 8th
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
NBA Moneyline Odds: Cavaliers -160 | Suns +150 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 218.5
Sunday, January 8th, finds the Cleveland Cavaliers playing the Phoenix Suns for the second and final time this season. The first meeting was a real defensive dog fight with the Cavaliers coming out on top 90-88 on January 4th.
Both teams played on Friday in the one match they’ve each played since playing each other. The Cavaliers lost 108-121 to the Nuggets while the Suns lost 96-104 to the Heat.
Last season the clubs played twice with the Suns winning both contests. The Suns hold the all-time record having bested the Cavaliers in 69 of their 118 matches.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Saturday, evening, January 6th. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Sunday, January 8th.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The road trip has just begun with stops in Utah, Portland, and Minnesota next. And things don’t get easier as the Cavs then play three of four at home but all versus winning teams (Pelicans @Grizzlies, Warriors, Bucks).
It’ll test the mettle of the Cavaliers as they try to navigate the dog days of winter while staying in striking range of the Celtics and Nets.
Donovan Mitchell has stepped up offensively with Garland missing games due to a sprained thumb but with the latter back, DM sat Friday or rest.
Mitchell is averaging 29.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9, assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s shooting 48.7% from the field, and 40.7% from deep on 20.6 and 9.3 attempts per game.
Offensively, Cleveland scores 111.5 points per game ranking 25th while shooting 47.9% from the field and 36.5% on the perimeter ranking eighth and 13th respectively.
Cleveland tops the league for opponent scoring limiting foes to an average of 106.8 points per game. Cavs opponents shoot 46.3% from the field and 36.7% from deep ranking eighth and 26th.
Darius Garland (thumb) is questionable. Dean Wade (shoulder), Dylan Windler (ankle), and Ricky Rubio (ACL surgery) are out indefinitely.
Phoenix Suns
Not surprisingly the Suns are missing Devin Booker and have subsequently plummeted down the West’s seeding ladder to eighth in his absence (tied with Portland) and hold a slim half-game lead over the 10th-place Jazz and lead the 11th-seeded Wolves by a game.
It’s not necessarily rock bottom yet but with Chris Paul leaving the match early on Friday with a hip injury things could get dark — fast. In the Suns’ nine matches between December 20th and Sunday, they have a single victory (Grizzlies) and are on a five-game losing streak.
Phoenix will face a bevy of winning teams with seven of their next eight matches against winning clubs (including this Sunday’s contest versus the Cavs).
The Suns are relying on Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and Mikhal Bridges to pick up the slack but keep coming up short which speaks to the need to add depth to their bench and just how vital Booker is to their success.
With their recent struggles, the offense just keeps slipping lower with the team averaging 113.1 points per game (ranking dropped from 8th to 16th in less than 10 days). They are shooting 46.6% from the field and 38.0% from the perimeter ranking 20th and fourth respectively.
Where Phoenix is gaining is on the defensive end with opponents scoring 111.0 points ranking seventh while they limit their shooting to 46.9% from the field and 35.8% from the perimeter ranking 14th and 16th respectively. All improved ratings this week.
Chris Paul (hip) is questionable. Cameron Payne (foot), Booker (groin), Cameron Johnson (knee), and Jae Crowder (trade request) are all out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Cavaliers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The Cavaliers are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games on the road.
- The Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games at home.
- The Cavaliers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against Phoenix.
Free Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA Prediction:
It’s one thing to battle without Booker, but if the Suns are also without CP3 and their backup point guard (Payne) figuring out who’ll orchestrate the offense is going to be a major challenge.
Great timing for the Cavs who’ll benefit once again from a winning team missing core contributors/stars.
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