The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 3-1 spread record in their first four games, with the ‘total’ splitting at 2-2. Byron Scott’s squad completes a two-game homestand in Tuesday’s matchup against the Charlotte Bobcats, who have allowed a league-worst 105 PPG en route to a 1-3 ATS mark in their first four contests.
Sportsbooks opened Cleveland as a five-point favorite, while
first setting the ‘total’ at 187. Early NBA betting action on Charlotte and the
‘over’ moved the NBA odds to 4 and 188 ½, respectively.
Cavs pull away from Nets
Cleveland shot 48.7 percent from the field in Sunday’s 98-82 win
as a 2 ½-point home favorite against the New Jersey Nets. The Cavs
drained a sizable 16-of-26 from beyond the arc, while edging New Jersey out in
rebounds, 36-32.
Cavs forward Antawn Jamison piled in a team-high 23 points, while
adding five boards and three of his squad’s 11 steals. Jamison’s mate
Anderson Varejao grabbed 11 rebounds, while Ramon Sessions logged eight assists
in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
The contest’s combined 180 points dipped below the ‘total’ of 187
½. Cleveland held the Nets to 38 percent field shooting, while both teams
combined for 41 turnovers.
Bobcats blown out in Miami
Charlotte suffered its second straight defeat by 20 or more points
in Sunday’s 129-90 spanking as a 14-point road dog against the Miami
Heat. The Bobcats allowed Miami to connect 60 percent of its field
buckets, while being outscored in the paint, 58-38.
Bobcats forward D.J. White notched a season-high 21 points, while
mate Derrick Brown hauled in seven rebounds off the bench. Charlotte’s
backcourt duo of D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson united for nine assists,
with Henderson adding three steals.
The lopsided affair’s combined 219 points soared above the ‘total’
of 197. Charlotte was outrebounded, 47-40, while being edged out in
fast-break points, 30-11.
Back the Cavs as home ‘chalk’
Tuesday’s tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET). Both squads are
playing the front end of back-to-back spots, with Wednesday’s league slate
sending Cleveland to meet the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte finishing its road
trip in New York.
This handicapper is backing the Cavaliers, laying the points at
home at a low premium. Cleveland has been undervalued by the oddsmakers,
while being ranked 10th in scoring (97.5 PPG) and field shooting
(45.8 percent). This is a great opportunity to add them to your NBA picks tonight and to build your bank roll.
Varejao has reached double figures in boards for Cleveland in
3-of-4 games, ranking the veteran fourth in the Eastern Conference with a
sizable 10.3 RPG. Look for Charlotte’s second-chance points to be limited
with the Brazil native’s presence.
Cleveland’s three-point shooting should also give them an edge in
this matchup, with the Cavs draining 41 percent from beyond the arc. The
Bobcats have allowed a sizable 41.2 percent from three-point land to fall,
while giving up 47.5 percent shooting from the floor overall.
The Cavaliers picked up steam late in last year’s season, going
10-5 ATS in their final 15 games. April’s 99-89 win as a one-point home
dog against Charlotte was one victory during that stretch, with the Cavs
holding Augustin and Co. to 39 percent field shooting.
My Pick: Look for the Cavs to get the money against Charlotte again here,
while both clubs continue in opposite directions at the betting windows.