Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets Predictions and Betting Odds 3/18/22
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets Betting Preview and Predictions
NBA basketball analyst Eric Pauly offers his Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets preview for Friday, March 18. At the time of posting, The Nuggets have opened as a 3-point road favorite over the Cavaliers, with the total sitting at 221 points.
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| Friday, March 18 | NBA Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Cleveland Cavaliers +3 vs Denver Nuggets |
| Total: | 221 Points |
| Game Time: | 7:40pm ET / 4:40pm PT |
| Arena: | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH |
| TV: | Bally Sports Ohio |
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets Analysis
On the third game of their road trip, the Denver Nuggets stop in Clevland on Friday night to take on the Jarettt Allen-less Clevland Cavaliers.
The Nuggets have won three of their last five while the Cavs have lost three of their last five. This is the second and final matchup between these two teams this season.
The Cavs bested the Nuggets in Denver their first matchup this season. Cleveland was 9.5 point underdogs in Denver and they won by 12. In this final matchup, the Cavs are 3 point home underdogs and the total is set at 221.
Cavaliers Back to Reality
The Cavs are one of the most surprising stories in the league this year, but they have started to come back to Earth after the All-Star break.
Cleveland is just 4-6 in their last 10 games and is allowing opponents to score 112.4 points per game. For a team that wins with their defense, it is alarming that they are allowing more points than they score.
Jarett Allen may be out for this contest, and there goes the Cavs best chance at locking down Nikola Jokic.
Nuggets Not Backing Down
The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, and they picked a great time to heat up. The Nuggets are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are 14-4 in their last 18.
Denver is 1.5 games behind Dallas for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference standings.
On the road this season, the Nuggets are 22-15. As a road favorite, the Nuggets are 8-8 against the spread. Cleveland beat up on Denver in their first matchup, but that was back in October.
Many things have changed since then, and the Nuggets should be fired up for this one.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
I like the Nuggets to cover the 3 point spread on the road. The Nuggets are a team that, to a fault, matches the competitive level of their opponent. Back in October, I can assure you the Nuggets took the Cavs lightly, and they got beaten up badly. I do not expect this team to make the same mistake twice.
If Jarett Allen does not play, Cleveland may be in for a long night. The Nuggets are not always the most explosive team, but they can take advantage of a regressing Cavs defense. I expect the Nuggets to win their third game in a row.
Prediction: Denver Nuggets -3
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Friday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets contest.
NBA Tip-Off Show
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Meet the Author
Eric Pauly, @slimeaction on Twitter, graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Finance. Eric is a die-hard Washington Commanders and New York Knicks fan and enjoys watching and writing about the NFL, NBA and MLB. His favorite gambling movements include hitting a +1000 future on Washington to win the NFC East in 2020 and predicting Jonathan Taylor’s breakout season with a +900 ticket for him to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Aside from the sports betting industry, Eric also enjoys good eats, dynasty fantasy football leagues, daily fantasy sports and playing the guitar.
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