The Oklahoma City Thunder (14-31) face an intriguing challenge on Saturday evening. The Thunder visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in prime time, with OKC playing for the second consecutive day. Cleveland is on regular rest with a 27-19 record and a 12-9 mark in home games. Rajon Rondo (hamstring) is listed as questionable for the Cavaliers, with Collin Sexton (knee) and Ricky Rubio (knee) ruled out.
Cleveland is listed as a 12-point home favorite for this 8 p.m. ET tip. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 207.5 in the latest Thunder vs. Cavaliers odds. Before making any Thunder vs. Cavaliers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 56-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Thunder, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Thunder vs. Cavs:
- Thunder vs. Cavaliers spread: Cavaliers -12
- Thunder vs. Cavaliers over-under: 207.5 points
- OKC: The Thunder are 3-3 against the spread with no rest
- CLE: The Cavaliers are 14-6-1 against the spread in home games
Why the Thunder can cover
Oklahoma City has encouraging defensive metrics. The Thunder are giving up 1.09 points per possession this year, landing above the NBA's average baseline. Oklahoma City is in the top 10 in field-goal percentage allowed, with opponents making fewer than 45 percent of shots, and that includes a 2-point mark of under 52 percent.
The Thunder are in the top five of the NBA in preventing free-throw attempts, allowing only 19 per game, and Oklahoma City is No. 2 in the league in fast-break points allowed, giving up fewer than 10 per game. The Thunder also wall off the paint effectively, giving up fewer than 45 points in the paint per contest, and the Cavaliers are No. 20 in the NBA in free-throw creation and just No. 26 in the NBA in preventing turnovers on the offensive end.
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland is very good on its own, but the Cavaliers should also benefit greatly from Oklahoma City's scuffling offense. The Thunder are last in the NBA in scoring this season, with league-worst marks in field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and assists per game. From there, Cleveland is in the top three of the NBA in defensive rating, giving up 105.4 points per 100 possessions.
Opponents are shooting only 44.3 percent from the field and 50.5 percent from 2-point range against the Cavaliers, with Cleveland also in the top 10 in 3-point accuracy allowed at 34.2 percent. Cleveland leads the NBA in fre- throw prevention, giving up only 17.9 attempts per game, and the Cavaliers are strong in assists allowed (23.1 per game) and second-chance points allowed per game (12.5 per game).
How to make Thunder vs. Cavaliers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 207 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Cavs vs. Thunder? And which side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
