The Cleveland Cavaliers are stumbling into the New Year’s holiday, losers of three-straight games as the victims of a barrage of opponent 3-point shooting, including a barn-burner to the Pacers on Thursday night. The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, have seemingly saved their season by winning five of their last six games, including last night against the Detroit Pistons. The Bulls are now back in the play-in tournament at 10th in the Eastern Conference.
They face off tonight on the last day of 2022, the first of two-straight games between the teams. On Monday the Bulls will follow the Cavs back to Cleveland to play again. The Cavs need to right the ship; the Bulls want to continue their newfound winning ways.
Betting odds, spread, over/under
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a much better team this season than the Chicago Bulls, and despite the three-game losing streak are favorites in Chicago. WynnBet has the Cavs favored by 3.5 points, with the over/under point total set to 224.
Cavs injury report
Darius Garland (questionable, thumb); Evan Mobley (questionable, ankle); Robin Lopez (probably, illness); Cedi Osman (questionable, back); Dean Wade (out, shoulder); (Ricky Rubio (out indefinitely, knee); Dylan Windler (out indefinitely, ankle)
Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup tonight
Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Lamar Stevens, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Opponent: Ayo Dosunmo, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
Prediction
The injury report will have a big influence on the Cleveland Cavaliers for this game. Darius Garland’s thumb kept him out of practice yesterday and there is a good chance it keeps him out tonight as well. Evan Mobley is also questionable and would be just as significant of a loss to the Cavs. If both play, Cleveland will be in great shape to win. If neither play, the Bulls should be favored at home.
Donovan Mitchell got some of his mojo back against the Indiana Pacers, and Jarrett Allen is a two-way monster right now. Nikola Vucevic will get smothered by Allen and Mobley, driving the offensive burden to the wings. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have carried the Bulls recently, and on the second night of a back-to-back will need to do so again for the Bulls to win.
Let’s assume that Mobley plays and Garland doesn’t; that will mean more of an offensive burden for Caris LeVert, who is a lesser version of DeRozan. Alex Caruso can match up with Mitchell, and LaVine gets a hiding spot with Isaac Okoro likely to start. The Cavs have been unlucky over this three-game losing streak, but the Bulls match up well against them and are on a hot streak. This one might not go the Cavs’ way.
Prediction: Chicago 105, Cleveland 103
BULLS (+3.5), UNDER
What channel is the Cleveland Cavaliers game on?
To tune into this game you can turn on your local sports network. Bally Sports Ohio will have this one for Cleveland fans, NBA Sports Chicago for Bulls fans. NBA League Pass will handle the game for the rest of the world. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. [full team name] live stream
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Cleveland Cavaliers next games and schedule
Mon, Jan 2 – Cavs vs Bulls
Wed, Jan 4 – Cavs vs Suns
Fri, Jan 6 – Cavs @ Nuggets
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change