Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Brooklyn Nets: Predictions, Starting Lineups (2/8/24)
Few teams in the NBA have had as dominant of a stretch as the Cleveland Cavaliers have had in their past 16 games, winning 15 of them despite missing some key players. Now, Cleveland is fully healthy once again and looking to log its 16th win in its past 17 outings on the road against the Nets on Thursday night. Can the Cavs stay hot? Find our Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction and matchup preview below, including both teams’ projected starting lineups and injury reports!
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction
Chaos in Brooklyn! The Brooklyn Nets got very active at the trade deadline, moving on from Royce O’Neale and Spencer Dinwiddie while bringing in Dennis Schroder, Thaddeus Young, and draft capital in the process.
Between Dinwiddie and O’Neale being moved, Schroder and Young not being immediately available to play, and the Nets’ hefty injury report, which includes Dorian Finney-Smith, Cameron Johnson, Dariq Whitehead, and Day’Ron Sharpe, the Nets will be shorthanded on Thursday night.
Brooklyn’s depth will take a temporary hit while it waits for Schroder to join the team and a few of the players on the injury report to get healthy, which is significant given the fact that the Nets’ bench ranks ninth in net rating, second in offensive rebounding percentage, and fifth in total rebounding percentage.
Now, the Nets will be tasked with holding off a Cavaliers team that holds a 15-1 record in their past 16 games and is undoubtedly one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Will they be able to pull off an unexpected home win or at least keep it close?
Cleveland has been on a roll and should continue to be with a fully healthy roster. The Cavs recently brought back Evan Mobley and Darius Garland from their respective injuries and have continued their excellent play. In their past four road games, three of which Mobley and Garland were available for, the Cavs have gone 4-0 and boast a net rating of +10.7. Their defense rating of 101.8 in that stretch has been exceptional.
The fact that Cleveland has been able to win games despite occasional offensive draughts is very promising, especially against this Nets team without several key players, two of whom they just traded. Back the Cavs in this spot!
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction: Cavaliers -7 (-110)
Contents
Best NBA Betting Promo Codes
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Brooklyn Nets Best Odds
Cleveland, one of the hottest teams in the NBA, holds a 6.5-point advantage on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. The Cavaliers have Moneyline odds of -258 to maintain their momentum, while Brooklyn is +210 to win at home. The Over/Under for this bout holds around 224.5 points, with the Under (-112) having a slight advantage over the Over (-108.)
Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineup
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Max Strus
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen
Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup
PG: Cam Thomas
SG: Dennis Smith Jr.
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Ben Simmons
C: Nic Claxton
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Brooklyn Nets Injuries
After several months of having key players injured, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally have a reasonable injury report, as Ty Jerome (ankle) is the only player who is listed as out. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets will be without several players, including Spencer Dinwiddie (trade), Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Cameron Johnson (adductor), Dariq Whitehead (shin), Dennis Schroder (trade), Royce O’Neale (trade), and Day’Ron Sharpe (knee)
