Saturday, December 31, 2016

Time Warner Cable Arena

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Time Warner Cable Arena to play the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, December 31, 2016. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 6 point favorites. The Cavaliers come into this game with an overall record of 24-7. They are 1st in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 7.1 as they are averaging 110.6 points per game while giving up 103.5 per contest. The Hornets have an overall record of 19-14. They currently are 1st in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 104.8 points per game and surrendering 102.1, good for a point differential of 2.7.

Lebron James comes into this contest averaging 25.4 points per game while playing 37.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Cavaliers. He pulls down 7.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 8.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is currently at 68%. Kyrie Irving averages 23.9 points per game in 34.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6 assists per contest and 3.6 rebounds per game for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Kemba Walker averages 22.3 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per contest this year for the Hornets. He grabs 4 rebounds per game and has 5.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 81%. Nicolas Batum averages 14.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.7 rebounds per contest and 5.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Cleveland averages 110.6 points per contest this season which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 2nd in the league. They average 54.3 rebounds per game and 22.8 assists per game which ranks them 7th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 13.8 per game. The Cavaliers allow 103.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 13th and 15th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 50.9 rebounds a game which ranks 7th and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the league.

Charlotte averages 104.8 points per game this year which ranks them 16th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team which has them sitting in the 24th spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 16th in the NBA. They average 55.4 rebounds per game and 23.5 assists per contest which ranks them 4th and 6th respectively. In the turnover department the Hornets rank 1st with 11.8 per game. The Hornets allow 102 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 7th and 11th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 52.1 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 24 assists per contest which puts them in 27th place in the league. The Hornets force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the NBA.

The Cavaliers have an offensive rating of 114.2 and a defensive rating of 106.9. In terms of pace they average 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 54%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they shoot 3 pointers on 39% of their shots. Cleveland turns the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions and they force 12.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%.

The Hornets rating on offense is 107.4 and they have a defensive rating of 104.6. They get 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 50%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they attempt 3 pointers on 32% of their shot attempts. Charlotte turns the ball over on 10.8 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 11.8 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 50%.

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-14-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 16-15-0 against the over/under

Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 16-16-1 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 18-15-0 against the over/under

Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/30/16 PG Kyrie Irving Hamstring injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Charlotte
12/21/16 G J.R. Smith Thumb out indefinitely
12/16/16 F Chris Andersen ACL out for season

Charlotte Hornets Injuries

12/30/16 F Cody Zeller Finger injured last game, probable Saturday vs. Cleveland
12/30/16 G Marco Belinelli Ankle "?" Saturday vs. Cleveland

Guy's Pick: Take Cleveland -6

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