Cleveland Cavaliers (25-4) vs Utah Jazz (7-20)
December 23, 2024 at 07:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Cleveland Cavaliers -14.5 — Over/Under: 230
The Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers collide at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Monday night. Here’s a Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction. This article will include a Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers Pick.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have been doing it tough as they’ve lost eight of their last 11 games overall, but they will be aiming for a third straight victory after taking down the Nets in a 105-94 road win on Saturday. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 21 points, Collin Sexton and Svi Mykhailiuk each scored 18 points while Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 16 points and eight assists off the bench. As a team, the Jazz shot 47 percent from the field and 14 of 41 from the 3-point line as they overcame a slow start and poured in 31 points in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime before they played great defense to hold the Nets to just 18 points in the third quarter to lead by as many as 20 points.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been in great form as they’ve won eight of their last nine games overall and they will be eager to build on their current four-game win streak after routing the 76ers in a 126-99 home win on Saturday. Darius Garland led the team with 26 points on nine of 11 shooting, Evan Mobley added 22 points with 13 rebounds and seven assists while Donovan Mitchell chipped in with 19 points and five assists. As a team, the Cavaliers shot 53 percent from the field and a sizzling 22 of 43 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest with a 36-point burst in the second quarter to take an 11-point lead into halftime and they kept their foot on the gas right till the end to finish with another blowout win at home.
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win
- The Jazz have lost 28 of their last 29 night games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Cavaliers have won each of their last 11 games as home favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last five night games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Jazz have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven road games against Central Division opponents following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the Jazz’s last eight games as road underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Cavaliers’ last five games against Western Conference opponents has gone OVER the total points line.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Facts
- Dean Wade ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for assist:turnover ratio (5.8) this season.
- Donovan Mitchell ranks 7th amongst qualified players for three-pointers made per 36 minutes (4.2) this season.
Utah Jazz Player Facts
- John Collins ranks 9th in the league for second-chance points (87) this season.
- Collin Sexton ranks 5th in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (88.9%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cavaliers rank 1st in the league for Q1 points per game this season (32.4).
- The Cavaliers rank 1st in the league for H1 win percentage this season (75.9%).
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (12.1).
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for Q3 opponent points per game this season (31.8).
Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
The Jazz could be shorthanded again with Keyonte George listed as questionable, while the Cavaliers are keeping an eye on Sam Merrill who is questionable with a quadriceps injury. Don’t look now, but the Jazz have played solid basketball to win their past two games, but they could be in for a rude wake-up call against the league-leading Cavaliers who just smashed the 76ers by 27 points in their last game. The Cavaliers were always going to be heavy favorites in this one and I think they make mince meat of this line at home.