The Brooklyn Nets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers for an Eastern Conference clash on Monday evening. Brooklyn is 12-5 overall after winning five of the last six games. Cleveland is 9-8 this season, but the Cavaliers are attempting to stop a three-game slide in this matchup. Kyrie Irving (personal) remains sidelined for Brooklyn, with Joe Harris (ankle), Nic Claxton (illness) and Bruce Brown (hamstring) also out for the Nets. Evan Mobley (elbow) and Collin Sexton (knee) are out for the Cavs.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Caesars Sportsbook lists Brooklyn as a 6.5-point favorite on the road, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 207.5 in the latest Nets vs. Cavaliers odds. Before making any Cavs vs. Nets picks or NBA predictions, be sure to check out what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $1,200 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 115-76 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in on Nets vs. Cavs and released its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds, betting lines and trends for Cavs vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Cavaliers spread: Nets -6.5
- Nets vs. Cavaliers over-under: 207.5 points
- Nets vs. Cavaliers money line: Nets -300, Cavaliers +240
- Brooklyn: The Nets are 7-9-1 against the spread in the last 17 games
- Cleveland: The Cavaliers are 10-5-2 against the spread in the last 17 games
Featured Game | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets
Why the Nets can cover
Brooklyn is known for its offense and with good reason. The Nets led the NBA in offensive rating last season, and Brooklyn is difficult to defend. This year, the Nets are leading the league in 3-point accuracy (38.0 percent), with top-eight marks in true shooting percentage, field-goal percentage, free-throw attempts, free-throw percentage, assists, assist rate and many more categories. On defense, however, Brooklyn has been better than expected. The Nets are allowing fewer than 1.05 points per possession this season, with top-five marks in field-goal shooting allowed (43 percent) and 3-point shooting allowed (31 percent).
Brooklyn ranks in the top five in assists allowed (21.5 per game), and Cleveland’s offense is below-average in a few key categories. The Cavaliers are scoring only 104.9 points per 100 possessions this season, with the second-worst ball security in the NBA. Cleveland is committing a turnover on 16.7 percent of offensive possessions, and the Cavs are also shooting just 33.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland has been solidly efficient in a few offensive categories this season. The Cavaliers are shooting 52.5 percent on 2-point attempts while also generating 23.6 assists per game. Both rank in the top 10 of the NBA this season, and Cleveland is also above-average in offensive rebound rate (27.6 percent) and free-throw creation rate.
On defense, the Cavaliers should be able to secure the glass, with Brooklyn ranking last in the NBA in offensive rebound rate at 20.4 percent. Cleveland is a top-10 team in shooting efficiency allowed, 3-pointers allowed and free-throw attempts allowed, with the Cavaliers committing the fewest fouls (15.7 per game) in the NBA this season. Cleveland is also creating a turnover on more than 15 percent of defensive possessions, and that havoc could help to fuel efficient offense.
How to make Cavaliers vs. Nets picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 214 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model’s picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Cavs? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
