Cavs vs 76ers: Preview, odds and how to bet third meeting

Lauri Markkanen, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Lauri Markkanen, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers righted the ship on Monday night, winning in overtime against the LA Clippers, and they will look to keep things rolling as they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. After playing two games in Philly over the past month or so, now they get a shot at one of their Eastern Conference rivals at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The Cavs play the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in their third meeting in 13 games. What do you need to know about who is playing and how to bet?

The 76ers roll into town with the shine of being newlyweds worn off. James Harden has struggled a bit in his past couple of contests, and the 76ers are 1-2 in their last three with just a 2-point win over the Orlando Magic saving them from a losing skid.

Philadelphia is 2.5 games up on the Cavaliers, and with one meeting remaining after this one the possibility still exists for Cleveland to close the gap. Lose tonight and Cleveland not only falls back even further but they lose the tiebreaker, making it all but impossible to catch Philly with just 13 games to go.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers: Odds, spread, over/under

The Cavaliers (39-29) will host the 76ers (41-26) tonight. According to our partners over at WynnBet, Philadelphia is favored by four points. The over/under point total is 218.0 for the game. In their last meeting a few weeks ago, the 76ers won in Philadelphia 125-119.

Both teams suited up for tight victories in their last outings. The Cavaliers played an overtime game against the Clippers on Monday night, but haven’t had to travel as they are in the midst of a small homestand. The 76ers went to-the-wire with the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at home, and then made the short journey over to Cleveland.

Cavs vs 76ers: Projected starting lineups, injury report

76ers starters: Tyrese Maxey, James Harden, Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid

Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Lamar Stevens, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley

The 76ers’ key injuries: None

The Cavaliers’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Jarrett Allen (out, finger); Dean Wade (out, knee); Rajon Rondo (out, ankle)

Cavs vs 76ers: Prediction

The 76ers have won both meetings thus far this season, and in both Joel Embiid has looked impossible to stop; unfortunately, that was with Jarrett Allen healthy and in the lineup. Now the Cavs face the daunting task of stopping the MVP favorite without their best rim protector.

The trick will be timely doubles, helping off of Matisse Thybulle or the other non-shooters in the rotation. That also means single coverage on James Harden; is Isaac Okoro up to the task? Offensively the 76ers will need to find an answer for Darius Garland, and the Cavs can try to run Harden through pick-and-rolls to take advantage of his defensive lack of interest, which has already surfaced after a (very) brief honeymoon period.

If Harden’s stepback 3-pointer is falling, the 76ers may be nearly impossible to beat. If it isn’t, the Cavs have a chance to slow the entire Philadelphia offense down. Then they will need to hit outside shots of their own; the accuracy of Kevin Love, Cedi Osman and Caris LeVert will be key.

The 76ers are entirely healthy, and with the Cavs down both Allen and Dean Wade their ability to field a cohesive unit on either end of the court is too hampered to expect them to win. They still can, and being home helps, but they’re trying to defend a castle with the castle gate out with a fractured…uh, hinge.

Prediction: Philadelphia 112, Cleveland 105

The Bet: (76ers (-4.0), UNDER

Cavs vs 76ers: Where to Watch

As with almost every Cavaliers game, it will be the local sports network broadcasting the game. In Ohio that means Bally Sports Ohio, and in Pennsylvania, it is NBC Sports Philadelphia. NBA League Pass carries the game for everyone else. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm ET.

Cleveland Cavaliers Upcoming Schedule

Cleveland continues its homestand on Friday, hosting reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in a game where Jarrett Allen will be sorely missed. Then Saturday night the Detroit Pistons will come to town as the Cavs look to even the season series.

Their homestand concludes Monday against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers; will James and Kevin Love embrace before that game, too? Finishing 3-2 or even 4-1 on the homestand will go a long ways towards securing a playoff berth, especially with a game against the Toronto Raptors looming next Thursday.