The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing very well recently, having won their last six games, and even with opponents having had their share of players out recently in that stretch, it’s shown growth from this young squad that they’ve won convincingly. Cleveland has typically gotten out to fast starts, and they’ve had plenty of big runs in games where they’ve been able to pull away.
Now, it’s unfortunate that Isaac Okoro first and then Evan Mobley following that have entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, but with the way this Cavaliers team has fared this season, I believe they’ll be fine.
We’ll have to see if others potentially enter protocols, clearly, and around the league, there’s been a ton of players entering protocols recently. I’m not glossing over that, and we’ll have to see what plays out in coming weeks, but the league did forge ahead last season.
In any case, for the Cavaliers, after their win over the Bucks on Saturday, they’ll have the Atlanta Hawks next in their second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday. Atlanta has been somewhat underwhelming so far, partly due to injury, but they’re still a very talented group.
So, what do you have to know about this Cavs-Hawks matchup, and how to bet?
Heading into Sunday’s matchup, it was originally one that appeared to definitely be an intriguing game between Cleveland and Atlanta. The Cavaliers, as we alluded to, have been playing great ball of late, and have won six straight contests, and they second in net rating among teams in their last 10 games.
From the Hawks’ perspective, they’ve again had injuries and some up-and-down play, as evidenced by Atlanta starting at 14-15 on the season, and them being 4-6 in their past 10 games.
Cavaliers-Hawks: Odds, spread and over/under
After several games where they’ve been favorites, the Cavaliers are, as was the case for much of the season thus far, the underdogs. Atlanta is favored here by 3.0 over Cleveland, according to our partners at WynnBet.
In terms of the over/under total for these two clubs, that’s set to be at 219.5 currently, per WynnBet. The Hawks’ over/under is set for 111.5 with Cleveland’s at 108.5.
Cavs-Hawks: Projected starting lineups, injury report
Hawks starters: Sharife Cooper/Lou Williams, Kevin Huerter, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, John Collins, Clint Capela
Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Lamar Stevens, Lauri Markkanen, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen
Hawks’ key injuries: De’Andre Hunter (out, wrist), Bogdan Bogdanovic (out, ankle); Solomon Hill (out for season, hamstring); Trae Young (out, COVID-19 health and safety protocols).
Cavs’ key injuries: Isaac Okoro (out, COVID-19 health and safety protocols); Evan Mobley (out, COVID-19 health and safety protocols); Collin Sexton (out for season, knee).
Cavaliers-Hawks: Prediction
The Cavs, as we touched on, have been playing great basketball, and heading into Atlanta, even with Okoro and Mobley in protocols, they should feel confident. As we noted however, the opponents they’ve been blowing out have not been exactly top end, but the way they’ve dismantled them hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Here, Atlanta is a club that’s always dangerous typically, but with Young heading into protocols, though, it’s a completely different game. The Hawks are third in offensive rating, and still have a plethora of shooters; even with Cooper a talented young player, he’s not the scoring and playmaking presence of Young.
John Collins will get his production, anyhow, but without Young, perhaps the efficiency isn’t there, as Dean Wade is a solid defender, too.
Overall, with Bogdanovic out and Young, I think the Cavs roll here, and the Young news drastically changes my prediction.
Prediction: Cavs 120, Atlanta 102
The Bet: Cavs (+3), OVER
Cavs-Hawks: Where to watch
Based on the marketability of the Hawks, and with how the Cavaliers have shocked everybody this season, this would make for an awesome national TV game, one would think. That won’t happen here, though.
For those in both respective markets, it can be viewed via Bally Sports Southeast and Bally Sports Ohio. And for the rest, you can stream this one via NBA League Pass.
Cavaliers upcoming schedule:
Following this bout with the Hawks, the Cavs are set to conclude their latest road trip at the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, who have been an inconsistent club that have a number of players that have been involved in trade rumors it seems. Boston is still very capable, either way; it’s nice for the Cavs that they’ll have two full days of rest prior to that, though.
After that Boston game, the Cavaliers will have a home meeting with Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, when the Raptors will look to avenge their loss to the Cavs in Toronto very early on. Another matchup between Barnes and Mobley at times, provided Mobley is in there, should be fun.
From there, Cleveland will hit the road once again, with them beginning their next road trip on Dec. 28 at the struggling New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels do still have some intriguing young pieces, but they’re desperately missing the oft-injured Zion Williamson.