Cavaliers Face Tough Battle Against Thunder
The NBA Eastern Conference’s No. 1 team visits the No. 3 team in the Western Conference when the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon. The current line has Oklahoma City favored by 3.5 points with the over/under point total sitting on 215.
Cleveland entering this game has an overall record on the season of 39-14 straight up and 23-27 against the spread. On the road, the Cavaliers are 16-10 SU and 10-13 ATS.
Oklahoma City has an overall record of 40-15 SU and 22-33 ATS. At home, the Thunder is 25-6 SU and 15-16 ATS.
This matchup will feature LeBron James, Kevin Love and gang from the East against one of the West’s best teams led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Cleveland won four straight games leading up to the All-Star break and returned from the break with a home win of 106-95 against Chicago on Thursday. Channing Frye an acquisition on the trading deadline is expected to debut for Cleveland in this game.
The Thunder lost coming out of the All-Star break on Friday by three points to Indiana. Westbrook said the team could not afford defensive lapses like in Friday’s loss as they approach the playoffs.
Cleveland is overwhelmingly favored to win the East and reach the NBA Finals a second consecutive season. The club opted to make a minor change by adding Frye to the lineup rather than making a big deal.
Oklahoma City added Randy Foye a veteran guard to their lineup last week prior to the trade deadline. The Thunder has improved its defense this season, but trail the top teams Golden State and San Antonio when it comes to shutting teams down.
Cleveland guard Iman Shumpert has a sprained shoulder and is listed as day-to-day.
The Cavaliers have won the past two games head to head with Oklahoma City but lost its only game in Oklahoma City last season 103-94.
The host team has covered the number in each of the past 4 games between the teams.
Cleveland has covered the number in 5 of the past 6 games between the two teams.
The UNDER has cashed in 5 of the past 7 games between the two teams played in Oklahoma City.
Prediction: Cleveland is coming off a win after the All Star break while Oklahoma City is coming off a loss. The Cavaliers should surprise the Thunder in this. I like the Cavaliers to cover.
