The New Orleans Pelicans (8-22) and Cleveland Cavaliers (16-14) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will broadcast live on FDSOH.
The Cavaliers are favored by -9.5 on the spread (Cavaliers -9.5), with the over/under set at 245 total points. The Cavaliers are -425 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Pelicans are +325 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, December 23.
My Pelicans vs Cavaliers Prediction
- Pelicans vs Cavaliers pick: Cavaliers -9.5 (-110)
My Pelicans vs Cavaliers best bet is on Cleveland to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pelicans vs Cavaliers Odds
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 245 -110o / -110u | +325 |
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 245 -110o / -110u | -425 |
Pelicans vs Cavaliers NBA Preview
The NBA system titled "Bad ATS Teams, Off Another Loss, Good Spot" focuses on teams that have been struggling against the spread but find themselves in favorable bounce-back positions — such as the Cavaliers in tonight's matchup against the Pelicans.
When a team with a poor ATS record suffers another narrow loss against the number, the market often overreacts, discounting them beyond what performance metrics justify, which appears to be the case for the Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, their opponent is typically coming off a cover or solid outing, which inflates public confidence on that side. This setup creates an imbalance where value shifts toward the underperforming team, as oddsmakers shade lines to match public perception.
Over a larger sample, these situations reveal how teams that consistently miss the spread by small margins tend to rebound once expectations fall too low, especially when facing opponents that are slightly overvalued due to recent success.
Overall, the system stands at 488-402-10 (55%) with a 6% ROI across all-time results.
Pelicans vs Cavaliers Betting Prediction
- Cavaliers -9.5 (-110)
Spread
My Cavaliers vs Pelicans betting prediction is on Cleveland to cover the spread at -9.5.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing the total tonight.
