Cavaliers vs. 76ers Pick, Analysis, Odds

Cleveland Cavaliers (38-22 SU, 34-25-1 ATS) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (37-19 SU, 32-23-1 ATS)
When: Wednesday, February 15th, 7:30 PM (ET)
Where: Wells Fargo Center, PA, Philadelphia
TV: ESPN

Point Spread: Cle +2.5/Phi -2.5
Total: 216.5
Money Line: Cleveland Cavaliers +116/-139

Notable Injuries

Cavaliers

• R. Rubio (Questionable) Illness

76ers

• Joel Embiid (Questionable) Foot
• P.J. Tucker (Probable) Calf
• Furkan Korkmaz (Out) Not With Team

Recent Form

Cleveland is 38-22 overall heading into the game. When taking to the road, Cleveland has a mark of 13-16 and a win percentage of 45%. Currently, the team is 4th in the Eastern Conference. So far, they are 34-25-1 vs. the spread. In their matchup against Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won 7 straight games and will look to push that mark to 8 in a row.

In their last outing, the Cavaliers emerged victorious against the Spurs, winning by a score of 117-109. Donovan Mitchell led the team in scoring with 41 points. The Cleveland team was not able to cover the spread as 16-point favorites.

Heading into the game, Philadelphia is 37-19 overall. When playing at home, Philadelphia has a mark of 22-8 and a win percentage of 73%. Currently, the team is 3rd in the Eastern Conference. So far, they are 32-23-1 vs. the spread. Philadelphia will look to stay hot in today’s game vs. Cleveland as they are the winners of 3 straight games.

In their last game, Philadelphia defeated the Rockets (123-104) as 14-point favorites. James Harden led the team with 28 points on 50.0% shooting. The 76ers also covered the spread with the victory.

The Historicals

In the most recent matchup between the two teams, the Cavaliers picked up the 113-85 win over the 76ers. The Cavaliers’ margin of victory was enough to cover the spread as 3.5 point favorite. This has been the only matchup between the two teams this season. The level of competition has been tight in the five most recent games between the Cavaliers and 76ers, with just 1 point per game separating the teams. Cleveland has the ATS edge in this span at 3-1-1. A combined average of 217 points per game was achieved in these matchups, leading to an over-under mark of 2-3.

Analysis

This season, Cleveland is averaging just 111.8 points per game, which places them 26th in the league. A major reason for these low numbers is the fact that they play at one of the slower paces in the NBA, at just 95.8 possessions per game. Cleveland heads into the game as one of the top 3-point shooting teams in terms of percentage. So far, they have hit 36.4% of their looks from deep. However, they are currently ranked just 23rd in 3-point attempts per contest. Defensively, the Cavaliers have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 105.67 points per game. So far, they have allowed a 3-point shooting percentage of 35.29%, placing them 16th in the NBA.

Donovan Mitchell is the top scorer for Cleveland, averaging 27.2 points per game. This season, his field goal percentage is 48.0%. The team’s second-leading scorer is Darius Garland, averaging 21.6 points per game.

This season, the 76ers offense is averaging 114.3 points per game, which is 16th in the NBA. In terms of pace, Philadelphia has been playing at one of the slower tempo’s in the league, averaging just 97.6 possessions per game. Philadelphia’s 3-point shooting numbers are below the league average, as they have hit just 38.3% of their looks from deep. On average, the team gets up 33.0 3-point shots per game, placing them 17th in the NBA. Defensively, the 76ers have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 107.33 points per game. So far, they have done an excellent job defending the 3-point arc, allowing teams to hit just 34.56%.

Heading into the game, Joel Embiid is listed as questionable on the injury report. This season, he leads the team with a per-game scoring average of 33.2. Currently, James Harden is 2nd on the team in scoring at 21.5 points per game.

Betting Trends

• The Cavaliers are 6-0 ATS in their last six after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Cavaliers are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss.
• The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last five after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on one day of rest.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won seven straight games. I had faded them on the road early on, but they’ve turned the corner and are starting to play good ball when away from home. The Sixers have won their last three games in a row but against weak competition. The wrong team is favored here, and I’m betting the Cavs to win straight up!