After sweeping their home-game homestand, the Cleveland Cavaliers appeared to have been in better shape, and looked to have turned things around after a five-game skid.
Unfortunately, Cleveland had a disastrous third quarter on Friday night at the Milwaukee Bucks, and their road struggles continued in that one. The Wine and Gold is a talented squad that is on the rise, but they’re still largely young, and the Bucks took it to them in the second half in that contest, which was difficult to see.
Following that outing, the Cavaliers will try to flush that one, as they’ll face the Detroit Pistons in the first leg of a road back-to-back on Sunday, with the second game featuring them going against the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
With that in mind, we’ll take a closer look at the betting info and injury report for this Cavs-Pistons matchup, and touch on our prediction in a bit.
Cavaliers-Pistons: Odds, spread and over/under
Per FanDuel, the Cavaliers are favored over the Pistons by 7.5 points. The moneyline is -300 for Cleveland and +245 for Detroit, and the over/under for this game is currently set for 218.
Cavaliers-Pistons: Injury report
Cavs injuries: Kevin Love (out, thumb); Ricky Rubio (out indefinitely, knee); Dylan Windler (out indefinitely, ankle); Lamar Stevens (out, non-COVID-19-related illness); Jarrett Allen (questionable, hip); Caris LeVert (questionable, ankle);
Pistons injuries: Cade Cunningham (out, shin); Buddy Boeheim (out, G-League Two-Way); Saddiq Bey (questionable, ankle); Jaden Ivey (questionable, knee); Bojan Bogdanovic (questionable, knee and ankle); Isaiah Stewart (questionable, toe); Cory Joseph (questionable, non-COVID-19-related illness).
Cavaliers-Pistons: Projected starters
Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Cedi Osman/Dean Wade, Dean Wade/Evan Mobley, Evan Mobley/Jarrett Allen
Pistons starters: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey/Rodney McGruder, Saddiq Bey/Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Livers, Marvin Bagley III
Cavaliers-Pistons: Prediction
The Cavaliers are facing a Pistons team that has dealt with a ton of injuries already this season as well, and that’s a key storyline for both clubs it seems here, particularly for Detroit.
The Pistons are going to be without Cade Cunningham again in this one, and they could be without Jaden Ivey and Saddiq Bey, as they were in a loss at the Phoenix Suns on Friday. It also is a game where Isaiah Stewart might not be involved, either, considering he’s been dealing with injury as well.
Regardless, for the Cavs, even with Jarrett Allen potentially not playing, and Kevin Love not being involved for the bench, with Detroit’s injuries to creators, and them not being nearly what they were at the seasons’ outset, this is a contest Cleveland should be able to cruise in.
Cleveland has to handle business, and the defensive urgency needs to be sustained for the game, but Detroit is a team that’s been dealt a really rough hand of late, and here, Cleveland’s stars should have some easy baskets to get the team going. And as the game progresses, one should expect Evan Mobley to assert himself, and then players role guys should follow suit.
Isaac Okoro, while he’s struggled for most of the season, could keep up his positive momentum from the last few games going here, too, and look for the run-outs in transition from him after contests.
Prediction: 113, Pistons 101
The Bet: Cavs (-7.5), UNDER
Cavaliers-Pistons: How to watch/stream
This Cavs-Pistons matchup will be on Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Detroit and Bally Sports Indiana for fans in-market and with those options. For fans out of market and/or without those channels, NBA League Pass will have the contest.
For a streaming option, check out FuboTV via free trail here!
Cavs upcoming schedule:
After this game versus the currently 5-16 Pistons, the Cavaliers will have their second leg of a back-to-back at the Toronto Raptors on Monday, in concluding this three-game roadie.
Following that, Cleveland will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and then Orlando Magic on Friday.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.