Cavs vs. Blazers Prediction
Are the Cleveland Cavaliers a good underdog play Thursday night on the road when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
(717) Cleveland Cavaliers at (718) Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, March 15, 2018
TV: N/A, 10:00 p.m. ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager, the Blazers are a 5.5-point home favorite to beat the Cavaliers, while the over/under sits at 220.5 points. Over their last 10 games, the Cavs are 5-5 straight up and just 4-6 at the betting window. The Blazers, meanwhile, are scorching hot, winners of 10 in a row straight up and nine of 10 at the betting window.
LINE MOVEMENT
Portland opened as a 4-point favorite but the line has climbed to 5.5 at the majority of online sportsbooks. The total, meanwhile, hit the board at 222 but has dropped to 220.5 at the majoirty of online spots.
Bet This Matchup & Other NBA Games
PUBLIC BETTING
As of this writing, 63% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Blazers to cover the point spread tonight as a home favorite. Meanwhile, 76% of the betting tickets are on the over.
KEY INJURY TO WATCH
Kevin Love (hand) remains out for the Cavs and so does Tristan Thompson (ankle) and Cedi Osman (hip). Rodney Hood (back), meanwhile, is questionable, while Larry Nance Jr. (hamstring) is probable. For the Blazers, Damian Lillard (personal) is the only player listed on their injury report and he’s probable.
BETTING STRATEGY
As much as I hate to lay points against LeBron James, the Blazers are too good of an straight up and ATS team right now to pass on them. Cleveland is 0-4 against the spread in its last four trips to Portland while the home team is a perfect 4-0 against the spread in the last four meetings between these two teams overall. The Cavs are also just 3-11 against the spread in their last 14 road games versus a team with a winning home record, are 8-21 at the betting window in their last 29 games playing on one day of rest, and are 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus a team with a winning record.
I mentioned how Portland was hot at the window but here are the specifics. The Blazers are 17-5-1 against the spread in their last 23 games overall. In their last 21 home games, they’re 15-5-1 against the number, and in their last 16 matchups with Eastern Conference foes, they are 11-5 at the betting window. Wow.
OUR PREDICTION: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -5.5