Last Updated on January 8, 2017 12:04 pm by Brad Burns
Gunner could make Cleveland debut tonight
Armed with a shiny new toy, Cleveland commences a six-game road trip this evening in the desert. So just how much resistance can reeling Phoenix provide?
The two clubs collide for the first time in almost 13 months at 8:30 p.m. ET. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the Cavaliers odds of -450 to emerge victorious. Conversely, the Suns represent +355 underdogs.
On Saturday, the Cavs (27-8) acquired Kyle Korver in a trade with the Hawks. With a career .429 success rate from beyond the arc, the Creighton product figures to add yet another dimension to the Central Division’s highest-scoring attack. Tyronn Lue’s troops have cracked the 115-point barrier in three of the past five contests.
Despite the best efforts of Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix (12-25) doesn’t boast quite the same firepower. The seventh-year guard poured in 26 points three nights ago, powering the Suns to a 102-95 triumph over Dallas. Bledsoe also ranks among the league’s top 15 in both assists (213) and steals (56).
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When these squads last met, David Blatt still served as Cleveland’s bench boss. Now, with Lue at the helm, we’re seeing an infinitely more cohesive — and dangerous — operation. Unfortunately for Phoenix, it’s merely caught in the crosshairs.
SUNDAY NBA FREE PICK: CAVALIERS -9