Cleveland vs Chicago NBA Picks and Odds Jan 19
Cleveland vs Chicago Betting Preview
SportsMemo NBA handicapper JM Sports offers his Cleveland vs Chicago betting preview for Wednesday, January 19. At the time of posting, the Cavaliers have opened as a 2.5-point road favorite over the home Bulls, with the total sitting at 215 points.
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| Wednesday, January 19 | NBA Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Cleveland Cavaliers -2.5 vs Chicago Bulls |
| Total: | 215 Points |
| Game Time: | 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT |
| Arena: | United Center in Chicago, IL |
| TV: | NBC Sports Chicago |
Cleveland vs Chicago Analysis
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to impress this season, while it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Chicago is tied for the lead in the Eastern Conference, it may surprise some that Cleveland is #4 in the conference, and just 1.5 games behind Chicago. These two teams have matched up once already this season, and Cleveland took the W in that game, by a score of 115-92, inside Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Cleveland is the favorite in this game on Chicago’s home court, but Chicago’s Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are currently questionable.
Cleveland Continues to Surprise the NBA
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Rajon Rondo in tonight’s game, but they are used to slim pickings at the PG position this year. Cleveland is 27-18 on the season, but they are 30-13 against the spread which is even more impressive. Cleveland has been a team this year that has won a lot of their games from the defensive aspect, holding teams to low scoring totals and following similar trends on the offensive side of the ball. Although, in the last five games the Cavaliers have averaged 111 PPG, almost four points more than they have averaged on the season.
On the other side, they are holding teams under 103 PPG, but in their 5 games against the division, they have held opponents to an impressive 95.2 PPG. Cleveland is 18-8 off a win (18-6-2 against the spread), 19-8-1 with 1 day of rest (18-10 against the spread), and 15-9 on the road (15-7-2 against the spread). They have outscored their opponents by over four PPG on the road this season, which has helped to lead them to a 6-2 record in the last two weeks, including five straight wins!
Chicago Struggling as of Late
As I mentioned before, there is a potential that they Chicago Bulls could be without some big name talent in their roster for today’s game. Regardless, Chicago sits atop the Eastern Conference for a reason, and they will be looking to come out and avenge the blowout loss from December. Chicago has outscored their opponents by just two PPG on average this season, but they are 27-15 on the year (24-18 against the spread). They have won 15 out of their 21 games at home (13-8 against the spread), and they have fared a little better, outscoring their opponents by 4.4 PPG on their home court.
Although, when you look at just the last two weeks, Chicago has struggled immensely, they have won just two out of seven games (including four straight losses) and they have been outscored by over six PPG, allowing over 119 points to the opposition in the last five games! Chicago is 5-2 against the division (4-3 against the spread), they are just 2-2 as a home underdog on the year and they are 8-6 on the season coming off a loss, and they are coming off a bad loss to Memphis (106-119 loss).
Cleveland vs Chicago Prediction
Cleveland could end the day just a half game behind Chicago and in a legitimate fight for the top seed in the East. Being in contention for the playoffs is a feat in itself for Cleveland since the departure of LeBron, let alone the fact that they could be competing for home court advantage if the season were to end today. Cleveland enters today’s game as a three point favorite and a total of 218.5.
Opinion : I am going to continue to ride this Cleveland (-2.5) train against the spread, with a Chicago Bulls team that is fighting some injury concerns, and a Cleveland team that is 12-5-2 as a favorite on the year and 16-3 straight up as a favorite.
Interested in placing a bet on tonight’s Cleveland vs Chicago contest? DraftKings is offering a $1,000 Deposit Bonus for first-time bettors in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Wyoming and Arizona.
Wednesday’s #NBA Notes:
🏀Orlando has covered the spread in four of its last five as a double-digit road ‘dog.
🏀Charlotte is 12-5 against the spread as a ‘dog.
🏀The under is 19-5 in Dallas’ last 24 games.
🏀The over is 26-13 in Houston’s last 39 games.
➡️https://t.co/RHOuvHZvdC pic.twitter.com/g94ryCDsIL— GoldSheet (@thegoldsheet) January 19, 2022
Cleveland vs Chicago Preview from GoldSheet
The Bulls are limping at the moment even worse than the Bears were at the end of the NFL regular season, with Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine (both with knee injuries) last on the court on Friday in the lopsided loss vs. the Warriors and Alex Caruso now going on a month being absent due to a foot injury (though he might be able to play tonight). It’s contributed to a bad stretch in Chicago with the Bulls losing four in a row and effectively surrendering the top spot in the Eastern Conference (now shared with Miami) in the process.
Among the worst Chicago defensive performances of the season have happened in the current slump, with recent troubles for the Bulls protecting the rim and the forced turnover rate well down from earlier in the season. More to like at the moment, it would seem, with the resurgent Cavs, who after a brief dip around New Yea’s have now won five in a row, four of those on the road, and quietly surging toward the Bulls and the top of the East. Cleveland is mostly beyond the recent spate of injuries and Covid absences, with oft-injured Rajon Rondo (hamstring; only suited up three games for the Cavs since being acquired from the Lakers in trade) the only absence other than long-term injuries to Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton.
As has been the case all season, having Darius Garland as a participant seems to be the key to Cleveland success, especially when paired with dual bigs Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, as the Cavs are 22-8 with all three available, and 5-10 when they’re not. Note Cleveland had no trouble with Chicago back on Dec. 8 in a 115-92 win at the Rocket, hitting 55% from the floor on a night the Bulls had main guns LaVine, Ball and Nikola Vucevic all in the starting lineup.
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 Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Cleveland vs Chicago contest.
NBA Tip-Off Show
Join Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of guests for the NBA Tip-Off Show at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss tonight’s marquee games. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of professional handicappers as they preview tonight’s NBA action, including this Cleveland vs Chicago clash, from a betting perspective.
NBA Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the NBA point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Wednesday’s NBA games, including this Cleveland vs Chicago showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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