NBA Predictions: Can Nuggets pull off upset at Cavaliers? 3/3/18

Nuggets vs. Cavaliers Pick

Are the Denver Nuggets a good underdog bet tonight when they take on the host Cleveland Cavaliers?

503 Denver Nuggets vs. 504 Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30PM ET

CURRENT ODDS

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Cavaliers are a 5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 228 points.

Bet NBA Action For Saturday, March 3, 2018

LINE MOVEMENT

Cleveland opened as a 6-point favorite before the line was trimmed by a point, while the over-under has moved up from 226. The line is currently at -4.5 at a lot of books, while the total of 228 is at most books you check out.

PUBLIC BETTING

As of Saturday morning, 56 percent of public bets have sided with the Cavaliers. Online wager info also shows that 55 percent of bets are coming in on the over.

INJURY TO WATCH

Nuggets forward Richard Jefferson has missed the last five games with wrist soreness and it is unknown if he will return tonight. Kenneth Faried is away from the team for personal reasons and is ruled questionable. For the Cavaliers, JR Smith served a one-game team-issued suspension for allegedly throwing soup (yes, soup) at an assistant coach and is eligible to return to action tonight.

BETTING STRATEGY

It might be a severe understatement to say that this game should be wildly entertaining. Nikola Jokic and company versus LeBron James? What is there not to love? If you are betting for nothing but some good old-fashioned fun, a bet on the over might be in your wheelhouse since it will be interesting to see if these two high-powered offenses can reach this high total. There's no doubt I considered it for this writeup. But I like the Nuggets here. They are on a back-to-back, but have been playing some good basketball of late with straight up wins in seven of their last 10. The return of Paul Millsap to the lineup will only make them better and he played well in his first start back last night. The Cavaliers don't have an answer for Jokic and he should be able to find knockdown 3-point shooters such as Gary Harris and Jamal Murray all game long. 

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: DENVER NUGGETS +5

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