The Cleveland Cavaliers have found ways to win throughout the season, and even in an ugly game on Monday, they had a strong fourth quarter effort against the New Orleans Pelicans, and got that one done.
Both of those clubs were somewhat shorthanded, as the Pels are still without Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram was out in that one still because of ankle sprain. Darius Garland, from Cleveland’s end, missed the contest due to back soreness.
For the Cavaliers, while a stinker at the Detroit Pistons on Sunday was disappointing, they had a January that was a noteworthy one with an 11-4 finish, and that was one where they had their best record since November of 2017 (12-3). LeBron James was still in his second stint with them then, and currently, the Cavs are fourth in the Eastern Conference at 31-20.
Next up for the Wine and Gold is their second and final matchup of the season with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, who are a club that’s amid a full-rebuild, but this one should be a completely different game than back in December. Cleveland won that one by a huge margin, but the Rockets were without a litony of players because of injury and COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Houston has had its moments of late; even still, with them playing so many young guys, there are growing pains. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 games, and are at the bottom of the Western Conference.
So what do you need to know about this one, and how to bet?
As we touched on, the Cavs have found ways to win, and have notched victories in nine of their last 12 games. Now, there haven’t been a ton of blowouts, but the team has gotten the job done in recent weeks, typically, and their defense in key moments has held firm.
In this contest, though, I’m not necessarily certain what Cleveland will do with the starting 1 spot, as Cedi Osman did have a career-best 12 assists filling in as a de facto lead 1 on Monday; Brandon Goodwin, who has played well, tied a career-best with 21 points then, for context.
The two-way guy in Goodwin has done quality work in stretches for Cleveland, and I could potentially see him getting the start here, as I wouldn’t expect them to want Rajon Rondo in there nearly that much. We’ll have to see.
Alright, from there then, let’s take a look at the spread/odds and over/under for this contest.
Cavaliers-Rockets: Odds, spread and over/under
According to our partners at WynnBet, the Cavs are favored here by 5.0 over the Rockets.
In relation to the over/under, that’s currently set for 220.0. That total for the Cavaliers is set for 112.5, whereas for the Rockets it’s set for 107.5.
Cavs-Rockets: Projected starters and injury report
Rockets starters: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon/Garrison Mathews, Jae’Sean Tate, Christian Wood
Cavs starters: Cedi Osman/Brandon Goodwin, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Rockets injuries: Usman Garuba (out, wrist); Daishen Nix and Trevelin Queen (out, G League assignment).
Cavs injuries: Darius Garland (out, lower back); Lauri Markkanen (out, ankle); RJ Nembhard Jr. (out, G League assignment); Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Ricky Rubio (out for season, knee).
Cavs-Rockets: Prediction
It’s admittedly tough to get a great read on this game. The Cavaliers will be without Garland and Markkanen, who had been heating up before his injury, here, and with Markkanen, one would assume that he could miss the other contests this week still, too.
In regards to the Rockets, though, with their youth, and Porter and Green still figuring out how to play off one another, also combined with other guys such as Gordon and Wood in the mix, the Rockets offense has its share of rough patches.
Granted, the Cavs’ offensive inconsistencies make it sensible that the team is reportedly seeking perimeter/wing help, and Gordon himself has been a rumored target, which with Cleveland’s injuries, I do get.
In any case, in this game, even with Houston being last in defensive rating this season, and that mark being 117.7 in their last 12 games, I still could foresee some difficult offensive stretches for Cleveland.
For now, while I don’t have a ton of conviction either way, I’ll take Wade, Mobley, Allen and the Cavs defense being able to force Houston into some tough shots here when it’s needed, and for them to find a way to win here. Kevin Love and the bench I do still think can outduel Josh Christopher, Alperen Sengun and company, to that point.
Another creator for Cleveland via trade would seem to be in the works, anyhow.
But for this game, either way, I’ll go with Cleveland taking it; Houston covers, though, and I’ll go with the under. Cleveland and Houston are 23rd and 27th in the league in offensive rating among teams in their last 12 games, at 109.0 and 108.0.
Prediction: Cavs 108, Rockets 104
The Bet: Rockets (+5.0), UNDER
Cavaliers-Rockets: How to watch
This Cavs-Rockets matchup will be available on Bally Sports Ohio and AT&T SportsNet Southwest, for fans that are subscribed to those options and in-market.
And for fans subscribed to it, NBA League Pass will get the job done as an alternative here for fans in-market or out of market.
Cavaliers upcoming schedule:
After this second and final meeting of the season with the Rockets, the Cavs will face off for the third time against LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and the high-flying Charlotte Hornets on Friday, with then being the last meeting of the season, barring a postseason matchup. That will be in Charlotte, where Cleveland will try to go to 2-1 on the season against Charlotte.
Then on Sunday, the Cavs will be back at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to face a Central Division rival in the Indiana Pacers, in what will be the second meeting of the season between those two teams. Cleveland won the first early last month.
From there, the Wine and Gold will have two full days of rest before playing their second and final game of the season versus the San Antonio Spurs next Wednesday, who they beat down the stretch a few weeks back on the road.