The Cleveland Cavaliers (46-30) will attempt to extend their five-game home winning streak in a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks (23-53) at Quicken Loans Arena. The game starts at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 1, 2018, and will air on Fox Sports – Ohio.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 217.5 points with Cleveland opening as an 11-point favorite.
Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers Free Prediction
In the Mavericks’ last contest, they were topped by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 93-92. Converting at the free throw line was one of Minnesota’s biggest strengths. They were 15-17 (88.2 percent), while the Mavericks were just 5-7 (71.4 percent). Harrison Barnes was Dallas’ high scorer with 19 points on 8-for-18 shooting.
The Cavaliers were victorious over the New Orleans Pelicans in their last contest, 107-102. The Cavaliers knocked down 11 of their 15 free throws (73.3 percent) and held the Pelicans to an offensive rebounding percentage of 16.3 (below the 23.0 mark opponents have averaged against Cleveland this season). LeBron James was the game’s leading scorer with 27 points on 12-for-24 shooting.
The sweet-shooting offense of Cleveland will clash against the porous defense of Dallas. The Cavaliers rank third in effective field goal percentage (0.547), while the Mavericks are 22nd in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.531). The Cavaliers figure to have the advantage on that side of the ball. The Mavericks should be expected to protect the ball well. They rank 3rd at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 12.1 percent). Conversely, the Cavaliers force the fourth-fewest turnovers in the NBA (opponents’ turnover percentage of 12.9 percent).
Dallas holds records of 23-53 straight up (SU) and 39-37 against the spread (ATS). Games involving the Mavericks have finished under the total 53.9 percent of the time.
Cleveland is 46-30 SU, but they are just 28-47-1 ATS. Contrary to Dallas, just over half of Cavaliers games have finished over the total.
This will be the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, Kevin Love scored a game-high 29 points and the Cavaliers beat the Mavericks 111-104, covering as 6-point favorites. He also had 15 rebounds. The game finished with a total of 215 points, which was just 0.5 points above the projected point total of 214.5 points. The Cavaliers made 29 of their 35 free throws (82.9 percent) and had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (23.3 vs. 17.3).
Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers Free Pick
Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Cavaliers, ATS Winner – Mavericks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
Dallas is 20-17 ATS on the road with 20 unders and 17 overs.
Cleveland is 11-25-1 ATS at home with 18 overs, 18 unders and 1 push.
When holding opponents under 100 points, Cleveland is 15-3 and Dallas is 16-12.
When scoring more than 100 points, the Cavaliers are 45-17 and the Mavericks are 17-26.
Dallas averages 32.4 three pointers per game, which ranks fourth in the NBA. Cleveland ranks 28th in three pointers allowed per game (31.7).
The Mavericks rank fourth in points allowed in the paint per game (41.8) while the Cavaliers rank 22nd (46.9).
Dallas ranks 14th in assists allowed per game (23.2) while Cleveland ranks 29th (25.7).
The Mavericks rank first in points off turnovers allowed per game (13.9) while the Cavaliers rank 15th (16.1).
Cleveland ranks 12th in fast break points allowed per game (11.3) while Dallas ranks 26th (14.3).
The Mavericks rank fourth in second chance points allowed per game (11.2) while the Cavaliers rank 16th (12.8).
Cleveland ranks third in blocks allowed per game (4.1) while Dallas ranks seventh (4.5).
The Cavaliers rank 23rd in rebounds per game (42.1) while the Mavericks rank 27th (41.2).
Dallas ranks 24th in steals per game (7.1) while Cleveland ranks 25th (7.0).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Dallas is 3-2 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over.
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Mavericks’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 3.2, up from 2.5 for the season.
During their last five games, the Cavaliers have scored an average of 109.0 points per game (1.7 below their season average) and allowed an average of 102.8 points per game (7.1 below their season average).
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