Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trail Blazers Preview (1/12/23): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds
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After yet another disappointing loss, the Portland Trail Blazers will duke it out with the Cleveland Cavaliers in an attempt to break from their four-game losing streak. Our analysis, betting picks, and predictions are available below.
You can also find the projected starting lineups, current odds, and updated injury reports for both teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Odds
The Cleveland Cavaliers are 2.5-point road favorites against the Trail Blazers in Portland. Cleveland’s injury report looks similar to how it has for most of the season; it will be without Ricky Rubio, Dylan Windler, and Dean Wade, while Jarrett Allen is listed as questionable.
The Blazers will only be without Justise Winslow and Nassir Little unless someone is a late scratch due to a rest day or lingering injury.
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
A seven-point possession (Jordan Clarkson’s three-pointer, flagrant foul free throw, and three-shot foul) catapulted the Utah Jazz from down five points to up two points with just over a minute left in their last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was yet another tough loss for a Cavaliers team that has struggled on the road all season; they have the fourth-best net rating away from Rocket Morgage but scarcely squeak out needed road wins.
Cleveland will be put to the test once again on the road against a struggling Portland Trail Blazers squad that hasn’t found its footing in the Western Conference.
After a strong start to the 2022-23 season, Portland has cooled off substantially; it has dropped four straight games to Orlando, Minnesota, Indiana, and Toronto. Needless to say, that isn’t the most challenging four-game stretch.
Still, Portland is in a good spot to grab a win here. The Blazers match up well with Cleveland position-by-position, as they are nearly as good of a rebounding team.
They also have enough firepower in their backcourt (Lillard and Simons) to put points on the board against a Cavs team that has been inconsistent, at times, offensively.
In the Blazers’ past four games they have been ice-cold, shooting a combined 26% from deep; however, this team still ranks seventh in the NBA in 3P% at 37.2%. Portland is due for positive regression and has covered well at home this season.
Look for a big game from Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and Damian Lillard in this one.
Betting Trends
- Cleveland is 6-12-2 ATS on the road in 2022-23
- Portland is 10-6 ATS at home in 2022-23
- The combined over record of these two teams is 36-44-2 in 2022-23
Key Matchups
The battle between two dynamic scorers, one in the last leg of his career and the other just starting, makes up our key matchup of the game. Take a look at whether Darius Garland or Damian Lillard will lead their team to victory!
Damian Lillard vs. Darius Garland
The Cavs as a team have been spectacular on the defensive end this season, posting the best defensive rating (109.0) in the NBA. This effort has catapulted them to fifth in the Eastern Conference, with only two games separating them from second place.
Despite their decent net rating on the road, there are still some areas of improvement, including Darius Garland’s individual defense; he boasts an individual defensive rating of 117.2 away from Rocket Mortgage.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard has posted at least 30 points in four of his past six games, which includes a 36, 38, and 40-point performance. Ultimately, experience and recent play will give Lillard a narrow advantage over Garland. Advantage: Lillard.
Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineup
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Isaac Okoro
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen
Portland Trail Blazers Starting Lineups
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Anfernee Simons
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Jusuf Nurkic
Key Injuries
Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries: Jarrett Allen (Q), Dean Wade (Out), Dylan Windler (Out), Ricky Rubio (Out)
Portland Trail Blazers Injuries: Nassir Little (Out), Justise Winslow (Out)
