Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks are battling for playoff positioning in the final game of the regular season. The two teams meet in Cleveland for a 3:30 p.m. ET tip-off Sunday.
Cleveland (43-38) is tied for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with Brooklyn, which has made a surge since New York allowed Kyrie Irving to play in home games. So now it’s a little less important to be the visiting team.
Milwaukee (51-30), meanwhile, has a one-game lead on Boston and Philadelphia for the East’s second seed. A win, and the Bucks will clinch that spot.
The line opened at Cleveland -8.5 with an over/under of 223.5. As of this writing, the over/under has shifted to 224.5.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview: All systems go
Cleveland led the Eastern Conference during the early parts of the season but have since slipped to the play-in range. A few trades to get more able-bodied players should help them in the postseason but missing Collin Sexton and Dean Wade for the season has hurt.
Still, Darius Garland turned in an All-Star campaign and really took a step forward. He’s averaging 21.8 points and 8.6 assists per game. Cleveland added Caris LeVert alongside him, and the frontcourt of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen, and Kevin Love has been tough to defend when healthy. Allen is still out but is expected to return soon.
The Cavaliers get it done on the defensive end, ranking fifth in the league in allowing 105.6 points per game. Interior defense has been a strength, forcing teams to shoot 45.3% from the field, the eighth-best mark.
Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview: Resting in the woods
It seems likely the Bucks will rest their stars in preparation for the playoffs despite seeding on the line. The defending NBA champions listed Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez, all doubtful. George Hill and Bobby Portis are also out with injury designations.
Though the Bucks have to have guys available to compete, Jrue Holiday figures to be the star for the day, with veterans Wesley Matthews and Serge Ibaka serving alongside him in the final tune-up before a few days off. It should give other players like Pat Connaughton, Jordan Nwora, Jevon Carter, and Thanasis Antetkounmpo opportunities to showcase their skills.
For the season, Milwaukee is the third-best scoring team at 115.5 points per game and is sixth in 3-point shooting, converting 36.6% of attempts. The Bucks are second in rebounding, pulling in 46.8 per game.
Betting Prediction
The under is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings in Cleveland and 4-1-1 in the last six meetings overall. Milwaukee is 39-42 against the spread and 36-44-1 on over/unders, with a 24-16 road record this season. Cleveland is 41-37-3 against the spread and 36-44-1 on over/unders this season, with a home record of 24-16.
With Milwaukee resting, the Cavs should be able to win and cover. The firepower of Milwaukee’s offense will be lacking, which should play to Cleveland’s strength and continue the success of the under in the series.
We’ll go Cleveland -8.5.
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