Portland Blazers at Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/2/2018

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Quicken Loans Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Quicken Loans Arena to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

The Blazers head into this matchup with a mark of 18-17. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.0 as they are averaging 101.7 points per contest while giving up 100.7 per game. The Cavaliers have an overall mark of 24-12. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They are averaging 110.1 points per contest and giving up 107.3, which is a point differential of 2.8.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 16-17-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 10-25-0 against the over/under

Important Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 11-24-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 17-18-1 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

12/31/17 PG Damian Lillard Leg is "?" Monday vs Chicago

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/21/17 PG Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely
11/30/17 G Iman Shumpert Knee is out indefinitely
11/17/17 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 25.2 points per game while playing 37.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 5 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 93%. C.J. McCollum averages 21 points per game in 36.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Lebron James averages 27.8 points per game while playing 37.4 minutes per contest this year for the Cavaliers. He grabs 8.2 rebounds per game and has 9.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage currently is at 78%. Kevin Love averages 20.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.2 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 101.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.97 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.7 per game. The Blazers allow 100.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.3 rebounds a game which ranks 12th and they give up 18.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland is 5th in the league with 110.1 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 2.78. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They are 21st in the league in rebounding with 41.8 boards per game, and 5th in assists per contest with 23.5. The Cavaliers are 16th in turnovers per game with 14.4. The Cavaliers surrender 107.3 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 25.4 assists allowed per contest and 14th with 42.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cavaliers are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 26th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.1, and their defensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 17th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 27th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. Portland is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 27th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Cleveland is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA. The Cavaliers are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 110.8, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 4th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 4th. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Blazers/Cavaliers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Cleveland

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