The Cleveland Cavaliers (23-19) and Philadelphia 76ers (22-17) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The 76ers are 2.5-point favorites over the Cavaliers on the spread (76ers -2.5), with the over/under set at 232.5 total points. Philadelphia is a -148 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Cleveland is +124 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 16.
Cavaliers vs 76ers Prediction
- Cavaliers vs 76ers pick: Over 232.5 (-110)
My Cavaliers vs 76ers best bet is on the Over at 232.5 total points, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs 76ers Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | +124 |
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | -148 |
Cavaliers vs 76ers NBA Preview
In an interesting scheduling quirk, the 76ers have four consecutive games against the same two opponents: two in Toronto and the second of two at home against Cleveland tonight.
After splitting the two games with the Raptors, the 76ers fell 133-107 to the Cavaliers. A typically raucous Philadelphia crowd was quiet most of the night, thanks to Cleveland's ball movement and offensive efficiency.
Donovan Mitchell flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 35 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Evan Mobley added 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Mitchell's 20-point third quarter helped the Cavaliers break the game open. However, that same quarter also cost them Darius Garland, who had 20 points and seven assists at the time.
Garland will miss tonight's game with right great toe soreness, which means Mitchell will slide over to point guard.
For Philadelphia, Joel Embiid did not play the fourth quarter, but he extended his 20-point streak to 12 games with 20 points in 25 minutes.
The 76ers are 7-5 during that stretch, and Embiid is averaging 27.5 points and eight rebounds per game. He is probable for tonight's game, along with Paul George.
Philadelphia shot just 40% from the field and 28% from three on Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey was held to 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting. He has carried the 76ers all season, so a bounce-back performance would be expected tonight. It will likely be needed to stem the tide in this series, as Cleveland has taken five of the last six meetings.
Cavaliers vs 76ers Prediction, Betting Analysis
These teams are 9-1 to the over in their last 10 meetings, which should come as no surprise given the explosive scorers on both sides, particularly Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey.
Four of those games closed with a pregame total north of 230 points, and all four finished with 240 points or more. That includes Wednesday's game, when the 76ers struggled on both ends, especially offensively, and the contest turned into a blowout.
Both teams rank inside the top 10 in offensive efficiency over their last 10 games, Cleveland sixth and Philadelphia ninth. That offensive firepower should push this game to 233 points or more tonight.
Maxey was held to 14 points and four assists on Wednesday, but that's been the exception rather than the rule.
With Joel Embiid in the lineup, Maxey averages 30.5 points and 6.7 assists per game. He has reached 30 points + assists in 17 of 19 such games and has also cleared 30 combined in three of his last four meetings against Cleveland.
Embiid has logged 32 minutes per night over his last 12 games, averaging 18 field-goal attempts and nine free-throw attempts per game. That level of volume should help him reach 25 points tonight.
On the Cleveland side, Mitchell has scored at least 28 points in seven of his last nine games without Darius Garland. He has also recorded five assists or more in eight of those contests, helping him clear 35 points + assists in seven of the last nine without Garland.
Despite Cleveland's four All-Stars being available on Wednesday, Jaylon Tyson scored 12 points, his third straight game in double figures.
Without Garland, Tyson is averaging 14.5 points per game this season. He has scored at least 15 points in seven consecutive games without Garland and has a strong chance of getting there again tonight.
Cavaliers vs 76ers Best Bet
- Over 232.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs 76ers Parlay Picks
- Donovan Mitchell 35+ Points + Assists
- Tyrese Maxey 30+ Points + Assists
- Joel Embiid 25+ Points
- Jaylon Tyson Over 13.5 Points
Parlay Odds: +460 via DraftKings
