Not even a team meeting seemed to cure what ails the Cleveland Cavaliers. For all the elite talent the Cavs have on their roster, there appears to be a deeper issue the Cavaliers are going through right now. The Indiana Pacers will look to pile on the Cavs some more this Friday, as they try to get their fourth win versus LeBron James and company. Click Here to Register to Bet
Betting Preview for the Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Regular Season Game on January 26 2018
The Pacers already have three wins against Cleveland this season, and they seem to be catching the Cavaliers at just the right time to get another win off of the defending Eastern Conference champions. The Cavaliers enter Fridays matchup having lost six of their last seven games. Part of that stretch was the Pacers’ 97-85 win at home against LeBron James and company on Jan. 12, when Darren Collison and Victor Oladipo teamed up for 41 points, while Lance Stephenson chipped in 16 points and 11 rebounds. Cleveland’s defense is akin to a wet paper bag right now, as it has allowed 118.8 points over its last six games – the worst in the league during that span. Pacers big man Myles Turner (13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks), who did not play in the last meeting with Cleveland, might suit up on Friday, and that could spell more headache for the Cavs’ problematic interior defense. Turner had 15 points and seven boards in a 106-102 win at home against Cleveland on Dec. 8. Indiana is 3-2 SU and ATS in its last five road games.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 114-102 road loss on Tuesday to the undermanned San Antonio Spurs, who did not have Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and Pau Gasol, and also had to stomach 12 minutes of Joffrey Lauvergne looking clueless on the court. As usual, it was LeBron James who led the Cavs, but his 28 points were not just enough to pull his team to a victory. As mentioned earlier, it’s Cleveland’s atrocious defense that is the most pressing matter for the team. The Cavs’ offense still look fine, as they have averaged 110.0 points in their last three games, but they could use a little more production from Kevin Love. Love has put up just 12.0 points in the Cavs’ last five games. In three matches with Indiana this season, though, the former UCLA Bruin has averaged 18.8 points, so maybe seeing the Pacers could whip him back to form. Cleveland is 9-1 SU in its last 10 home games against the Pacers.
Writer’s Prediction:
Indiana sends the Cavaliers deeper into the pit of misery with a 112-108 win at The Q. Dilly! Dilly!
