The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting to show cracks again, which the Denver Nuggets are looking to take advantage of this Saturday. Will the Cavs lose back-to-back games for the first time since the trade deadline? Or will LeBron James and company bounce back from a recent loss to the Sixers?
The Nuggets could be considered lucky because the first time they will meet LeBron James this season, they have Paul Millsap in active duty. Millsap has missed a ton of games to recover from a wrist surgery he underwent back in November. Millsap, however, could still just be in the process of getting his legs back, so the load remains heavily on the shoulders of Nikola Jokic, particularly in the frontcourt. Jokic is averaging 17.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and he could bust out with a huge game against the Cavs’ slim frontline and still-questionable overall defense. Apart from Jokic, the Nuggets also have the dynamic tandem of Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. Harris paces Denver with 17.5 points. Murray, on the other hand, is generating 16.4 points per contest. Denver overall can keep in step offensively with the Cavs, as the Nuggets are eighth in the league with 108.4 points per game.
The Nuggets are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 trips to The Land.
It seems that the optimism for the Cavs post-trade deadline is starting to fade – if it hasn’t yet. After winning three-straight games following the deadline, the Cavs have gone 2-3 SU. Those three losses includes a 108-97 setback at home on Thursday at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, which may or may not be LeBron James’ team next season. That’s for another topic, though. For now, the Cavs should worry about their defense. While they have improved since going on a fire sale, the Cavs are still inconsistent on defense, as evidenced in their loss to Philly. Nevertheless, Cleveland always have James and their offense to rely on. They are sixth in the NBA with 109.5 points per game. James, as usual, is a beast on the floor. The four-time MVP is making a near triple-double of 26.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, while shooting 54.4 percent from the floor. Cleveland is 6-3-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings with the Nuggets.
