The Cleveland Cavaliers have once again proven that unlike other seasons in the past few years, with more impact players, and a far better defense night-to-night, they are more than capable of grinding out victories. The way their defense has been, and with their rim protection, it’s enabled them to often dictate gameflow, and as games progress, they’ve shown they can have workmanlike victories, regardless of opponent.
With the Cavs having had the league’s toughest schedule to this point, as of Thursday, it’s been impressive how they’ve started out at 15-12 this season, too. And fortunately for the Wine and Gold, the schedule lightens up fairly soon; that doesn’t mean the victories necessarily will just come easy, though. The Sacramento Kings are next on the docket for Cleveland, with both clubs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
What do you have to know about this Cavs-Kings matchup, and how to bet?
The Cavaliers have been getting healthier of late, and thanks to a defense that’s #3 in defensive rating thus far, the club has found its stride again in recent weeks for the most part. Cleveland has won six of eight, and with Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love beginning to hit their stride as shooters, and Darius Garland amid his Year 3 leap, it’s meshed well with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley–Jarrett Allen duo at the 4/5.
In Sacramento’s case, they have been somewhat up-and-down, and our currently in the #10 spot in the Western Conference. The Kings have big guns in De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton that are always formidable, and Cleveland will have its hands full with, and Terrence Davis Jr. (if he’s in a reserve role) and Davion Mitchell are players to look out for off the bench as well. I’m not glossing over Buddy Hield (now off the bench), either. I’d anticipate Mitchell to be getting the Garland assignment at times, for what it’s worth.
From there, with Richaun Holmes out, I’d expect Tristan Thompson off the bench and Jarrett Allen to be a matchup of two hard-working bigs for stretches, and it’ll be interesting to see Thompson back playing against his long-time former squad.
Additionally, the potential of Lauri Markkanen and Harrison Barnes for stretches could be one to watch for, in particular. I could foresee Dean Wade drawing Barnes in spurts, too, if the Cavs get the memo about Wade minutes being warranted; Cleveland’s plan for Barnes will be a focal point here, anyway.
So where are the current odds, and what are the key injuries heading into this contest for both squads?
Cavaliers vs. Kings: Odds, spread and over/under
Currently, given what they’ve been able to show in recent weeks, the Cavaliers are favored by a pretty sizable 6.5 points over the visiting Kings here, according to WynnBet. Cleveland is again, 6-2 in their last 8 games though, however, prior to their L at the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, the first leg of their back-to-back, Sacramento had won three straight.
Looking at the over/under, that’s set for 223.0 currently, with Sacramento’s over/under at 108.5, and Cleveland’s at 115.0. That factors in the style of the Kings, who are sixth in offensive rating on the season, and with how Cleveland’s offensive rating has been sixth in the past 10 games.
Cavs vs. Kings: Projected starting lineups, injury report
Kings starters: De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Terence Davis Jr./Harrison Barnes, Harrison Barnes/Marvin Bagley II, Alex Len
Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Kings’ key injuries: Richaun Holmes (out, eye)
Cavs’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee)
Cavaliers vs. Kings: Prediction
With the way the Cavaliers have been playing as they’ve gotten healthier, I’d expect them to get the job done here, regarding the win column, once again. I can’t say definitively that the Wine and Gold will again rout one of their opponents though, as this will be yet another game for them, being the fifth in a seven-day span.
However, with the way the team has been playing, and with the club’s three-point shooting really coming along as they’ve gotten healthier, combined with the disruptive Cleveland defense, I do believe the Cavs eventually pull away again. The Kings are coming off a tough one-point loss at the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, too, albeit a depleted Charlotte.
Plus, the Kings being without Holmes in this contest is a real blow to them on both ends I believe, and Cleveland’s frontline is going to give Alex Len trouble, in my opinion.
Sacramento will hang around with their plethora of guards still, but I still believe the Cavs, who have been covering in the rare instances they’ve been favored, do that again here and have a few big runs.
Prediction: Cavs 118, Kings 107
The Bet: Cavs (-6.5), OVER
Cavs-Kings: Where to watch
As has typically been the case for Cavaliers games and will be throughout the season for those in local markets, this matchup can be seen on Bally Sports Ohio. For those local for the Kings market, this one can be viewed via NBC Sports California, which is typical in that sense.
And the rest in other markets that are subscribed can see this one via NBA League Pass. The game is set to begin at 8 PM EST.
Cavaliers upcoming schedule
Up next after this duel with the Kings, the Cavaliers are set to take on Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat at home, as they continue on without Bam Adebayo for a considerable chunk of games. In the first meeting between those two of the season, Cleveland blew out Miami in its first victory over them in South Beach since 2010, but the Heat were in their first game sans Adebayo and Butler was out. So this one should be a tough bout.
From there, the Cavaliers will face off against a rebuilding Houston Rockets team on Wednesday again at home, so that’d figure to be a far more favorable opponent. But, the Rockets have been playing very well of late, even sans Jalen Green, and following a 15-game losing streak, they’d won seven straight, prior to a loss on Friday to the Milwaukee Bucks. And after that Houston matchup, Cleveland faces Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks again on the road on Saturday, the first leg of a road back-to-back with the Cavs at the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.