The Eastern Conference’s top team will be at home when the Cleveland Cavaliers (31-12) welcome the Phoenix Suns (14-32) to the Quicken Loans Arena. Action begins at 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Jan. 27 and can be seen on FxO and FAZ.
The Cavaliers enter this game hoping for similar success after topping the Timberwolves 114-107 on Monday. LeBron James was the team’s leading scorer with 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting. The Suns, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 113-103 loss against the 76ers on Tuesday. Archie Goodwin led the game in scoring with 26 points.
The ineffective offense of the Suns (27th in the league with an offensive efficiency of 100.7) will attempt to infiltrate the elite defense of the Cavaliers (fifth in the NBA with a defensive efficiency of 100.7). The matchup on that end of the floor seems to lean toward Cleveland.
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning the first matchup 101-97. In the loss, T.J. Warren led all scorers on the team with 23 points.
This one isn’t expected to be close when the Cavaliers, a big 14-point favorite, take on the Suns. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently 205 points. The Cavaliers come into this game 31-12 Straight Up (SU) and 18-23-2 Against The Spread (ATS). While they boast a record of 5-1 against Western Conference opponents at home, they have struggled to beat the spread in those same games, going 2-4. Cleveland will look to take advantage of the Suns and their propensity to foul. Phoenix ranks 28th in the league in fouls, averaging 22.8 per game.
As for their opponent, the Suns have 14-32 SU and 18-28 ATS records. Phoenix has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record.
In their previous meeting this season, Cleveland beat Phoenix, but the win was not enough to overtake Phoenix in the recent head-to-head series. Its record is now 4-6 SU over the most recent 10 meetings. The Suns also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 7-3.
Predictions: SU Winner – Cle, ATS Winner – Cle, O/U – Under
Notes
Cleveland is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games.
Cleveland is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 5 games at home.
Cleveland is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games at home.
Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix.
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Cleveland’s last 13 games when playing Phoenix.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix.
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix.
Cleveland is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix.
Phoenix scores 101.6 points per game (ranked 15th), but Cleveland typically gives up only 96.0 points per game (ranked third).
Phoenix scores an average of 99.7 points per away game (ranked 14th), while Cleveland allows 98.1 points per home game (ranked 11th).
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Phoenix Suns are 6-5. When scoring fewer than 100 points, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 10-10.
The Phoenix Suns have an underachieving 8-27 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 21-2 when they hit the century mark.
The Cavaliers have a defensive rating of 100.7 (ranked fifth), while the Suns have an offensive rating of 100.7 (ranked 27th).
The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best field goal percentages this season, ranking 10th in the league with a FG% of 45.1%. When their opponents record a similar or higher FG%, the Phoenix Suns have a subpar 6-29 record.
On average, the Cleveland Cavaliers attempt 28.0 three point field goals per game and the Phoenix Suns attempt 25.0 per game. In games where they attempt at least 25 three pointers, Cleveland has a solid record of 21-10, while Phoenix has a losing record of 7-19.
Cleveland has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.68 this season (ranked ninth), while Phoenix ranks lower at 29th with an A/TO of 1.29.
The Cleveland Cavaliers rebound 45.0 times per game and are ranked eighth. Ranked 18th, the Phoenix Suns rebound 43.0 times per game.
The Phoenix Suns rank 14th in offensive rebounding, while the Cleveland Cavaliers rank ninth in defensive rebounding.
Though Phoenix is one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TOV% of 15.0% (ranked ninth), Cleveland has a winning 11-5 record SU when it has a TOV% of 15.0% or greater.
