The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets are going up against each other this Tuesday for the rights to advance to the playoff proper as a no. 7 seed. Check out our preview below of this Cavs vs. Nets NBA Play-in Tournament game.
The Cavs once looked like they were headed to a locked-up spot in the playoffs, but they will now have to go through a play-in game against the Nets to get that. Nevertheless, Cleveland got some momentum ahead of that big matchup, as the Cavs closed out their regular-season schedule with a 133-115 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Kevin Love powered the Cavs with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo dished out 13 assists. That veteran support for the Cavs should come in handy in a high-pressure contest like the one they will be dealing with this coming Tuesday. The Cavs may also be forced to play Jarrett Allen, who’s been out for a while because of injury, but seems to be close to a return. In the Cavs’ 114-107 home win over Brooklyn last January, Allen had 14 points and 10 boards, while Darius Garland discord 22 points to go with 12 assists.
The Cavs are 26-10-2 against the spread in their last 38 games after covering the spread in the previous contest.
There will still be no Ben Simmons for the Nets, but there should be no shortage of firepower at all for Brooklyn, which will both have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to run the show. The Nets, who were among the preseason favorites to win the NBA title, will have the advantage of playing in front of its home crowd. The Nets also seem to have Cleveland’s number, having defeated the Cavs three times in four meetings this season. Moreover, Brooklyn is 7-3-1 against the spread in its last 10 games at home versus the Cavs. That includes their recent 118-107 victory just last Friday at home in which Durant went off for 36 points. Irving and Bruce Brown each scored 18 points in that contest as well. With the Cavs missing Allen, the Nets demolished Cleveland in the rebounding department, 45-31. Andre Drummond had 12 boards, while Brown had 18. That could be the case again this Tuesday, especially if Allen fails to suit up.
