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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

To many people's surprise, the Cleveland Cavaliers have begun the season as the best team in the NBA, going 26-4 through their opening 30 games to lead the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. 

They are showing no signs of slowing down either, winning each of their last five games and nine of the last 10, with a clash against the inconsistent Denver Nuggets likely to provide a sixth straight success. 

The Nuggets have been up and down this season, boasting a solid if not spectacular 16-12 record. Some key injuries and the form of the Cavaliers leaves them looking vulnerable for Friday’s clash at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets betting picks and predictions

Cleveland Cavaliers to win (-150)

After a mixed spell with the Brooklyn Nets, eyebrows were raised when the Cavs announced the hiring Kenny Atkinson as the team's new head coach in June. However, he very quickly silenced his critics by becoming the first coach in NBA history to win his first 15 games in charge of a franchise. 

That has proven to be just the beginning for Atkinson and the Cavs, who have continued their excellent play to boast the NBA's best record and establish themselves as genuine contenders for the championship. 

Atkinson showed his strategic flexibility last time out, highlighting his growth as a coach over the past few years. Against Utah, Atkinson opted to limit one of his star men’s minutes, letting Jarrett Allen sit out large periods in favor of a spacing-heavy approach. 

Those tactics limited the impact of Utah’s biggest strength, their big men, and helped Cleveland to an impressive 124-113 victory. He will likely show his versatility again by bringing a fresh Allen back in to limit Nikola Jokic. That means the Cavs' good times should continue in Denver. 

Key Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon - one of their best defenders - is out for the hosts, who may also be without their secondary star, Jamal Murray. Those absences further tip the balance in Cleveland’s favor.

A 9-3 away record is another positive for the Cavs, who should beat the Nuggets for the second time this month, having won 126-114 at home at the beginning of December. 

Evan Mobley Over 17.5 points (-115)

Denver has struggled to defend mobile forwards in recent outings, and Evan Mobley may be the latest to notch a big tally against the Nuggets.  

Kevin Durant was the Phoenix Suns’ top scorer (27 and 23) in their back-to-back clashes with the Nuggets, highlighting their weakness in that spot. That issue will be compounded further by the absence of Gordon. 

Gordon’s injury has come at a bad time, too, as he would have been key to limiting the impact of Mobley, who has been on a roll lately. 

The Cavs star has notched over 20 points in eight of his last 11 appearances, including 22 in each of his last two, and he seems to excel on the road, averaging 22.4 in his last five away games. 

Mobley managed 20 in this month’s earlier meeting with the Nuggets and he should notch at least 18 on Friday. 

Peyton Watson Over 8.5 points (-125)

With Gordon out, Peyton Watson should see his minutes increased in this game, which could see him reach his relatively low line for points with little issue. 

Watson has gone four games without managing more than eight points but the most time on the court he had in any of those matches was 24 minutes, which is less than he should get against the Cavaliers.

He has managed nine or more points in 10 of the 13 games in which he has played 25 or more minutes this season, suggesting Over 8.5 is easy enough for him to achieve on Friday. 

As capable as he is shooting from deep as he is getting into the paint, Watson could be a decent weapon for Denver to utilise and he has the skill set to help out Jokic in giving the hosts a fighting chance against the NBA’s best team. 

Read more betting picks and predictions for the NBA on site.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets odds

Cleveland Cavaliers 

-150 ML

Denver Nuggets

+125 ML

Spread

CLE Cavaliers -2.5

Total Points

O/U 236.0

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets player props

Player Points

Nikola Jokic (DEN Nuggets)

O/U 27.5

Donovan Mitchell (CLE Cavaliers)

O/U 23.5

Jamal Murray (DEN Nuggets)

O/U 20.5

Darius Garland (CLE Cavaliers)

O/U 19.5

Evan Mobley (CLE Cavaliers)

O/U 17.5

Michael Porter Jr (DEN Nuggets)

O/U 17.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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