Cavaliers vs. Thunder prediction, odds, line: 2022 NBA picks, Jan. 22 best bets from model on 56-30 run
Sat, Jan 22, 2022
NBA News (AP)
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a cross-conference tilt on Saturday. Cleveland is 27-19 overall and 12-9 in home games to begin the 2021-22 season. Oklahoma City (14-31) is on the second night of a back-to-back set after losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Rajon Rondo (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Cleveland, with Collin Sexton (knee) and Ricky Rubio (knee) ruled out.
Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Cleveland is listed as the 12.5-point home favorite at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 209 in the latest Cavaliers vs. Thunder odds. Before making any Thunder vs. Cavaliers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsTek's proven computer model.
The SportsTek Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 56-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Thunder, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsTek now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Thunder vs. Cavs:
- Thunder vs. Cavaliers spread: Cavaliers -12.5
- Thunder vs. Cavaliers over-under: 209 points
- OKC: The Thunder are 3-3 against the spread with no rest
- CLE: The Cavaliers are 14-6-1 against the spread in home games
Oklahoma City has encouraging defensive metrics. The Thunder are giving up 1.09 points per possession this year, landing above the NBA's average baseline. Oklahoma City is in the top 10 in field-goal percentage allowed, with opponents making fewer than 45 percent of shots, and that includes a 2-point mark of under 52 percent.
The Thunder are in the top five of the NBA in preventing free-throw attempts, allowing only 19 per game, and Oklahoma City is No. 2 in the league in fast-break points allowed, giving up fewer than 10 per game. The Thunder also wall off the paint effectively, giving up fewer than 45 points in the paint per contest, and the Cavaliers are No. 20 in the NBA in free-throw creation and just No. 26 in the NBA in preventing turnovers on the offensive end.
Cleveland has two-way strengths, and the Cavs have a rest advantage against a Thunder team on a back-to-back. The Cavaliers are scoring more than 1.1 points per possession, with top-eight marks in field-goal percentage (46.7 percent) and 2-point percentage (54.4 percent). Cleveland creates 25.5 assists per game and assists on 63.8 percent of field goals, illustrating effective passing. The Cavaliers are also top-tier in offensive rebounding, securing 27.5 percent of available rebounds after missed shots, and Cleveland is scoring 47.9 points in the paint per game.
Cleveland is in the top three in defensive rating, allowing 1.05 points per possession, and the Cavaliers lead the NBA in free-throw prevention. Cleveland is in the top 10 in field-goal percentage allowed, 3-point percentage allowed, 2-point percentage allowed, assists allowed and second-chance points allowed. Oklahoma City is No. 30 in the NBA in scoring, shooting efficiency and assists.
SportsTek's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 207 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsTek.
So who wins Cavs vs. Thunder? And which side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsTek now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
