Free NBA Pick: Blazers vs. Cavaliers NBA Odds
Looking for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Blazers taking on the Cavaliers on Tuesday January 2, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Blazers Cavaliers matchup.
(19-17) Portland Trail Blazers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (24-12)
Date: Tuesday January 2
Time: 7:00PM EST
Venue: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -8
NBA Betting Total: 211.5
Live NBA Odds
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The Portland Trail Blazers finish the second game of their back to back series versus the Cleveland Cavaliers who’ll play their first game of 2018. Portland will have weary legs and the disadvantage of their opponent resting since Saturday.
Cleveland are back home after a quick mini three game opposite coast road trip in which they lost to the Warriors, Kings and Jazz. The Blazers won in Chicago but it took overtime to capture the ‘W’.
Last season, the squads split the season series and have going back the past three campaigns. The Blazers hold the all-time record having bested the Cavaliers in 67 of their 119 matches.
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard did not play in Chicago marking his fifth straight missed game with a hamstring strain. Stepping up Lillard’s absence was his backcourt partner C.J. McCollum who delivered with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and five treys.
Jusuf Nurkic did a little of everything grabbing a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Nurkic also pitched in 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
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The X-factor of the night was Al Farouq Aminu however, as the power forward scored 24 points, added 7 rebounds and connected on five of his seven perimeter shots.
Still the Blazers need to get Lillard back as he averages a robust stat set of 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists while shooting 34.8 percent from the perimeter.
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Portland began the season registering among the top five defenses ranking seventh in October and third in November. They’ve fallen to 14th in December. Presumption is an early easy schedule helped the Blazers cause.
This is partially true, but injuries have also played a factor. As much as Nurkic is key to the Blazers defensive success the absence of Aminu played a role as well. Six of the Blazers next seven games are against playoff teams with five of those contests on the road.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The big news in Cleveland is Isaiah Thomas will make his debut as a Cavalier in this game. Thomas will begin his season entering off the bench.
LeBron James can certainly use another star to help with scoring especially considering his minute total through 36 games. As per NBA.com John Schuhmann, “The 3,810 minutes LeBron James played in 2017 were the 5th most he’s played in any calendar year.”
Notably, it’s also the most minutes he’s played in a calendar year since 2012. Consider James is playing in his 15th season and just turned 33.
The Cavaliers have played one of the easiest schedules to date, so the fact the Cavaliers got swept on their recent three game opposite coast road trip is concerning.
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Cleveland’s defense remains a major red herring as their 26th ranking in December came facing easy opponents (only four playoff teams).
The team directly in front of Cleveland (Raptors) played a similar schedule (although just two playoff squads), but they produced the top ranked defense in the month.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Blazers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 road games.
- The under is 7-1 in the Blazers last 8 road games.
- Cavaliers are 5-22-1 ATS in their last 28 home games.
- The over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings Portland has played in Cleveland.
- The home team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings between the squads.
Free Portland Trail Blazers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Prediction: Rested legs rule the roost
Since the Blazers needed overtime to dispense of the Bulls they are sure to be on weary legs. If Lillard can return it would certainly help.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Blazers +7
That said, the combination of the emotion sure to be elicited in the Q with Thomas ‘debut, fresh legs and the Cavs desperate for a win are too much to bet against.
NBA Free Score Prediction: Cavaliers 110 – Blazers 107
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