The Cleveland Cavaliers (32-21) and Denver Nuggets (34-19) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The game will broadcast live on FDSOH.
The Nuggets are 1-point favorites over the Cavaliers on the spread (Nuggets -1), with the over/under set at 239.5 total points. Denver is a -115 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Cleveland is -105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Monday, February 9.
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks
- Cavaliers vs Nuggets pick: Over 239.5 (-110)
My Nuggets vs. Cavaliers best bet is on the over at 239.5 total points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -110 | 239.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -110 | 239.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
Cavaliers vs Nuggets NBA Preview
As expected in the regular season, the James Harden era in Cleveland got off to a rousing start as the Cavaliers scored 132 points in a victory over the Kings.
Harden joins a Cleveland offense that ranks sixth in offensive rating this season. He had 23 points and eight assists while making five of his eight 3-point attempts.
Jarrett Allen also figures to be a beneficiary of Harden's arrival, and he had 29 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday night.
Despite the offensive firepower, the Cavaliers did not cover as 13-point favorites and even found themselves in a tight game late. They rallied from seven down with four minutes left in the quarter, and Donovan Mitchell scored 29 of his 35 points in the second half to lead the comeback.
The Cavaliers improved to 3-1 on their road trip and have won eight of their last 10 games. They will conclude the trip in Denver in a battle of top-four seeds in their respective conferences.
Denver salvaged a 1-2 road trip with a 136-120 win over the Bulls on Saturday.
It was a typical night for Nikola Jokic, as he had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 17 assists for his second consecutive triple-double and 18th of the year.
He is rounding back into MVP form after returning from injury, having played 33 minutes in each of the last three games.
Jamal Murray has taken advantage of his running mate being back, scoring 32, 39 and 28 points in his last three games.
The Nuggets fell to the Cavaliers in the first meeting, 113-108, but Murray led the way with 34 points with Jokic sidelined.
The Nuggets are still trying to shake the injury bug, as Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson are both out with hamstring injuries.
Along with Jokic, Christian Braun has returned recently, while Cameron Johnson returned against the Bulls and played 27 minutes.
For the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley will be out again with a left calf sprain, while Jaylon Tyson is questionable with a left ankle sprain.
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Predictions, Betting Analysis
Over 239.5
The first meeting between these teams finished with 221 points, but that game did not include Jokic or Harden.
Even with that result included, the over is 6-1-1 over the last eight meetings, with five of those games featuring at least 230 points.
Additionally, both teams rank top six offensively this season and top three over the past five games. Over that span, the Cavaliers have scored 124 points in four of those games and are 3-2 to the over.
The over has hit in all five games for the Nuggets since Jokic returned, and they are 15-9 to the over in Denver this season. Another over should cash with 239 points tonight.
Jamal Murray 30+ Points + Assists
A first-time All-Star this season, Murray has scored 20 points or more in eight of his last 10 games, with five assists or more in nine of them.
He has recorded 30 PA in six of his last nine games and has posted 38 and 41 PA in his last two games against Cleveland.
Nikola Jokic 12+ Rebounds
Jokic has recorded 10 rebounds in each of his last four games against the Cavaliers, with 14 or more in the last three.
He has grabbed 12 rebounds in four of his last five games since returning from injury and in seven of his last 10 overall.
He is averaging 12.2 rebounds per game this season, and the Cavaliers rank 16th in rebounds allowed to centers.
James Harden 8+ Assists
While Harden is still learning his new teammates, he is very familiar with Denver.
He is averaging 8.4 assists per game over his last 17 games against the Nuggets.
He is averaging 8.1 assists per game this season and has recorded eight assists in nine of his last 10 games.
Jarrett Allen 2+ Assists
Denver ranks 14th in assists allowed this season, and Allen may be a surprising source for a few as well.
Allen is averaging 3.8 assists in his last five games against the Nuggets and recorded three assists in four of those games.
He averages two assists per game this season and has recorded two in four of his last five games.
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Best Bet
- Over 239.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Nuggets Parlay Picks
- Jamal Murray 30+ Points + Assists
- Nikola Jokic 12+ Rebounds
- James Harden 8+ Assists
- Jarrett Allen 2+ Assists
Parlay Odds: +500 via DraftKings
Nuggets vs Cavaliers Betting Trends
