Cavs @ Nets Preview

The Cleveland Cavilers are not out of the playoffs yet, but with each passing day it comes increasingly less likely for them to make a tournament run. Meanwhile, their opponents tonight, the Brooklyn Nets, are currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, and it is all but set in stone that they will make a tournament run.

The Nets may not have a lot of momentum coming into this game with back-to-back overtime losses on the road. The Nets back-to-back losses was their first consecutive marks in the L column since a three-game losing streak back in late Jan.  The Nets will be looking to recover with a win over the Cavs at home.

They have consistently been winning at home as of late.  Brooklyn will be starting a three-game homestand, and will be looking for its 12th consecutive home game victory against the Cavs.

The Nets are playing for a lot more than just bragging rights and streaks.  They are looking to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.  The Nets are looking to close in on either the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  They are currently 2 1/2 games behind.  Playing the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at home would be huge for the Nets given their previously mentioned home court streak.

The Cavs will not being straying far from their offensive strategy tonight.  Expect them to be attempting a lot of threes as they should given their stats.  The Cavs are shooting with nearly 40 percent accuracy from behind the arc and have sinked double digit three-pointers in their last six games.

The season series thus far is split, with the Cavs taking one at home and the Nets taking one at home.  Brooklyn has won out statistically, holding the Cleveland to just 90 points per game and 39.3 percent shooting as a series average.

The Brooklyn Nets are the -8.5 point favorites to win this game.  The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and you can watch with NBA Live Play.