Cavaliers vs Nuggets 1/11/2020 NBA Prediction, Pick, Tips

Game: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2020

Location: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

TV: Altitude

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -8.5

Total/Over-Under: 224

Darius Garland and the Cleveland Cavaliers (11-27, 5th in the Central Division) travel to Pepsi Center on Saturday where they'll meet the Denver Nuggets (26-11, 1st in the Northwest Division). The spread on this matchup has Denver as 8.5 point favorites. The O/U has been set at 224.

The Cavaliers cover 43.2% of the time, having gone 16-21-1 ATS. Denver is covering 45.5% of the time, going 15-18-4 against the spread.

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

01/09/20 PG Dante Exum Illness is questionable Saturday vs Denver
01/06/20 SG Kevin Porter Jr. Knee is out indefinitely
01/03/20 PF Larry Nance Jr. Knee is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

01/09/20 SG Will Barton Personal is questionable Saturday vs Cleveland
01/09/20 PF Paul Millsap Knee is questionable Saturday vs Cleveland

Player Spotlight

Darius Garland comes into this game averaging 12.0 points per contest while playing 29.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Collin Sexton averages 18.5 points per contest in 31.4 minutes per game. He averages 2.3 assists per game and 3.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic scores 19.3 points per contest while playing 31.1 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.7 rebounds per contest and has 6.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Jamal Murray averages 17.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.1 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 104.9 points per contest, which is 27th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -8.7 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 18th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They average 44.1 boards per contest and 21.4 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 2nd with 16.4 per game. The Cavaliers allow 113.6 points per contest, which is 21st in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 28th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.5 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 25.7 assists per game which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 19th in the NBA with 109.1 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.86. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 21st in the league. They are 19th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.5 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 26.3. The Nuggets are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.4. The Nuggets give up 105.2 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 15th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.1 dimes allowed per game and 6th with 43.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Nuggets are 13th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 24th in the league in defensive rating with 114.6, and their offensive rating of 105.8 is ranked 29th. They are 23rd in the NBA in pace with 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Cleveland is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 25th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 16th in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.4, and their defensive rating of 107.4 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 21st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Denver -8.5

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