Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 3/7/2018

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Pepsi Center to take on the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The opening line for this game has Denver as 2 point favorites.

The Cavaliers come into this game with an overall record of 37-26. They are 1st in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 110.1 points per game while giving up 109.8 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall record of 35-28. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.7 points per game and surrendering 107.5, good for a point differential of 1.2.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 20-42-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 31-30-2 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 29-31-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 31-32-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

03/04/18 C Tristan Thompson Ankle is out indefinitely
03/03/18 F Jeff Green Back is out indefinitely
01/30/18 F Kevin Love Hand is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson comes into this game averaging 14.3 points per contest while playing 23.4 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Lebron James averages 26.8 points per contest in 37.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 9 assists per game and 8.4 rebounds per contest for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 54% for the season while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris has scored 17.9 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per game this season for the Nuggets. He hauls in 2.7 rebounds per contest and has 3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Nikola Jokic averages 16.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 10.5 rebounds per game and 6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.1 points per contest this year, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 5th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They average 42.2 boards per contest and 23.6 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 18th with 14 per game. The Cavaliers allow 109.8 points per contest which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 27th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44 rebounds a game which ranks 22nd, and they allow 25.8 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 8th in the NBA with 108.7 points per contest this season. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.13. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 10th in the league. They are 10th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.1 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 24.7. The Nuggets are 8th in turnovers per contest with 15.2. The Nuggets give up 107.5 points per game, which ranks them 20th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 30th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 25th with 24.5 dimes allowed per game and 1st with 40.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Nuggets are 13th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111.8, and their offensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 3rd. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA. Cleveland is 18th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.7, and their defensive rating of 110.5 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland +2

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