Both the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers provide the ultimate example of overlays for much of the public that is betting on NBA games. The Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016 while the Warriors won it in 2017. Cleveland boasts veteran star LeBron James while the Warriors marquee man is Stephen Curry. With championship pedigrees and superstar players the betting public flocks to these teams. The board value of the Cavs and Warriors continues to be driven down as a result.
Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Date and Time: Monday January 15, 2018, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Warriors -4.5, O/U 230.5
Warriors vs. Cavaliers TV Coverage: TNT
The Golden State Warriors are running away with the NBA Pacific Division and hold a 13-game lead over the second place LA Clippers. Golden State is 35-9 straight up but just 20-23-1 against the spread. The Warriors are 11-11 against the spread on the road. Golden State is 24-20 going over the total and 13-9 over the total on the road. Golden State has the NBA’s top ranked offense. Curry leads the Warriors in scoring with 27.8 points per game. Golden State has not provided much board value for those betting on NBA games. The Warriors have won seven out of their last eight games straight up but paid out in just three of those games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in a horrific stretch lately. Cleveland has lost seven out of their last nine games straight up while getting the money just one time. The Cavaliers rank 25th in the NBA for defense which has offset their fifth ranked offense. James leads Cleveland with 27.1 points per game. The Cavaliers hold a four-game lead in the Central Division over the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland is 26-16 straight up but is 12-29-1 against the spread. The Cavs are gushing red ink at home with just three payouts in 19 home games.
Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue is feeling the heat for the Cavaliers slumping ways. When a team ranks as badly on defense as the Cavs do it is often taken as a sign of the team tuning out the coach and not playing hard. Lue had the Midas Touch when he took over the Cavs halfway through the 2015-16 season. His first season ended with an epic NBA Championship but memories are fading fast in Cleveland.
Matchup to Watch
For basketball fans and everyone betting on NBA games this is the ultimate matchup. The Cavaliers and Warriors have met in the last two NBA Finals and are favored to do so again. The Cavaliers have been a terrible betting value against Golden State with just one payout in the last seven meetings. Cleveland has been at their best at Quicken Loans Arena against the Warriors however. The Cavaliers have paid out in three of their last four home games against Golden State.
Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Games Betting Odds Picks
The Cavaliers may be struggling but there is nothing like a national TV audience and matchup against the defending NBA champions to get King James and crew focused and ready to play it tough. Everyone betting on NBA games should reasonably expect a maximum effort out of Cleveland in this one.
NBA Betting Online Pick: Cleveland
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Cavaliers 107, Warriors 105