After a road bump in the road, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been able to turn things back around, as they won all four of their games in their recent homestand.
Although part of it has been opponents being shorthanded, objectively, such as them facing the Portland Trail Blazers sans Damian Lillard on Wednesday, and the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro on Sunday.
But, the Cavs did handle business versus Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, and it was refreshing to see the squad rebound over the last chunk of contests after a five-game skid.
Next on the docket for the Wine and Gold (12-6) is a matchup where they’ll be facing a different animal in the Milwaukee Bucks, in fairness, the squad that last beat them last Wednesday.
With that segue, we’ll take a closer look at the matchup info here, beginning with the odds.
Cavaliers-Bucks: Odds, spread and over/under
According to FanDuel, the 12-5 Bucks are favored here by 3.5 points. The moneyline for Milwaukee is -176 and for Cleveland is +148. The over/under total in this one is currently set for 217.
Cavaliers-Bucks: Injury report
Cavs injuries: Ricky Rubio (out indefinitely, knee); Dylan Windler (out indefinitely, ankle); Caris LeVert (out, ankle); Kevin Love (out, thumb).
Bucks injuries: Khris Middleton (out, wrist); Joe Ingles (out, knee); Jrue Holiday (probable, non-COVID-19-related illness).
Cavaliers-Bucks: Projected starting lineups
Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Lamar Stevens/Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Bucks starters: Jevon Carter, Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Cavaliers-Bucks: Prediction
In the last game between those two teams on Nov. 16, Lamar Stevens and Cleveland did do a decent job versus Giannis Antetokounmpo in limiting his rim pressure looks, and one would think they’ll try to do so again here, especially with Khris Middleton not back yet.
That said, Milwaukee will have Pat Connaughton this go-round, along with Grayson Allen and Jrue Holiday it seems will be back in there, which was not the case in the first matchup.
Granted, Jarrett Allen will be back in this time for Cleveland, along with the emerging Dean Wade, and I’d imagine those two will be the primary defenders on Giannis. So with that in mind, I wouldn’t expect Brook Lopez will simply run wild as a catch-and-shoot threat from three from here, and Evan Mobley should benefit, generally, with Allen back, and Cleveland should still have better help viability this go-round.
However, offensively, Milwaukee is still convert on at the basket, and there could be some tough spurts on that end with the Bucks’ length overall, and Holiday’s presence on defense could give this a different complexion for stretches.
One should expect the Cavaliers to be more competent here with Allen and Wade’s abilities on both ends, but even sans Middleton, it’s difficult to go against the Bucks at home with other reinforcements. The Cavs just have a few too many transition opportunities conceded, and over the course of the contest, that could be the difference between a potential win and covering.
Prediction: Bucks 108, Cavs 103
The Bet: Bucks (-3.5, UNDER)
Cavaliers-Bucks: How to watch/stream
This Cavs-Bucks game will be available for fans in-market and with the said options on Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Wisconsin and Bally Sports North. For fans out of market and/or without those options, NBA League Pass should suffice.
For a streaming option, check out FuboTV via free trial here!
Cavs upcoming schedule:
Following this Milwaukee game, the Cavaliers will have two more road games at another Central Division rival in the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and then they’ll face the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
From there, Cleveland will play the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at home.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.