Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/5/24

At 7:00 ET, the 8th-ranked Nuggets (11-8) will take on the 1st-ranked Cavaliers (19-3) in a non-conference matchup. Cleveland is currently favored by 3.5 points and has a two-game win streak.

The over/under line for this game is 237.5 points. The game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland and can be seen on NBA TV.

DENVER NUGGETS VS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5

This game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:00 ET on Thursday, December 5th.

WHY BET THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 129-121 in favor of the Cavaliers.
• Our projections have Donovan Mitchell finishing with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
• From the field, we have the Cavaliers finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.5% and knocking down 15 threes.

Can the Nuggets Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

The Nuggets improved to 11-8 on the season with a 119-115 home win over the Warriors on Tuesday. Denver was favored by 5 points but didn’t cover the spread, and the total points of 234 fell just short of the 236.5 O/U line.

A key 12-0 run helped the Nuggets take control, turning a 54-44 deficit into a 56-54 lead. Denver entered the 4th quarter up 90-85 but couldn’t extend their lead enough to cover the spread, as they were outscored 30-29 in the final period.

Nikola Jokić delivered 15 of his 38 points in the 4th quarter, leading the Nuggets to a 119-115 win over the Warriors. Jokić shot 58.3% from the field and hit 3 threes at a 75% clip. Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points, and Aaron Gordon contributed 15 points, also making 3 threes at 75% efficiency.

Denver shot 50.6% from the field and connected on 45.8% of their threes, making 11 in total. Jokić scored 11 points in the 2nd quarter and 9 more in the 3rd, while Gordon added 9 points in the opening period.

Defensively, the Nuggets gave up 115 points to the Warriors but managed to secure the win. Denver allowed 31 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd, giving up 26. They allowed 28 points in the 3rd and 30 in the 4th.

The Nuggets held the Warriors to 31% shooting from three, with Golden State making 12 threes. Denver also sent the Warriors to the line 21 times, where they hit 15 free throws. The Nuggets finished with 9 steals and 5 blocks.

Is A Home Victory Likely for Favored Cleveland?

The Cavaliers improved to 19-3 this season with a dominant 118-87 win over the Wizards on Tuesday. Playing at home, Cleveland entered the game as -16.5 point favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game were 205, falling well short of the 234.5 O/U line.

Cleveland took control early, going on a 10-0 run to extend their lead from 40-28 to 50-28. After leading 86-67 heading into the 4th quarter, the Cavs finished strong, outscoring Washington 32-20 in the final period.

Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell both scored 19 points in the Cavaliers’ 118-87 win over the Wizards, with Mobley adding 10 rebounds and shooting 50% from the field. Mitchell also made 4 threes, shooting 50% from deep, while Sam Merrill contributed 14 points, hitting 4 threes at 44.4%.

The Cavs made 16 threes as a team, shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc and 48.3% overall. Mobley scored 11 points in the 1st quarter, while Mitchell added 8 in the 4th, and Merrill also chipped in 6 points in the final period.

The Cavaliers put on a defensive clinic against the Wizards, holding them to just 87 points on Tuesday. Cleveland was consistent throughout, allowing 20 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters, and 22 in the 2nd. Even in the 3rd, their worst defensive quarter, they gave up only 25 points.

From beyond the arc, the Cavaliers were particularly stingy, limiting Washington to 4 made threes on 15% shooting. Cleveland also came up with 11 steals and 4 blocks in the game.