Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets Odds & Prediction, Plus BetMGM Bonus Code

The Cleveland Cavaliers (25-14) leave Ohio to take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (25-13) Friday night. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code LABSTOP to get in on the action with one of the best Ohio sportsbook offers. Follow along as NBA betting analyst Nick Galaida previews the game, odds, and shows you how to get our first bet insured up to $1,000. 

Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Odds

• Cavaliers +5.5 (-110)
• Nuggets -5.5 (-110)
• Over/Under 220

Odds are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook

On Friday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers will travel into the altitude to battle the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Since legalized betting became legal in Ohio earlier this week, Cleveland is 2-0 straight up after wins against the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Tonight, oddsmakers have Cleveland priced as 5.5-point road underdogs with Donovan Mitchell having been ruled out. Let’s take a look to see where bettors can find value in this matchup!

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

Not in Ohio anymore

After back-to-back victories at Rocket Mortgage Arena, Cleveland will play the first of five consecutive road games this evening in Denver. At home this season, Cleveland is an impressive 18-4, having outscored their opponents by 8.1 points per 100 possessions – the fifth-best mark in the NBA. However, it has been a different story for this group on the road where they are 7-10 during the first half of the regular season. Playing on the west coast this year, Cleveland is 2-4, with wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, but losses against the the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs.

Donovan Mitchell ruled out, Garland questionable

Per Cleaning the Glass, Cleveland ranks in the 54th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 88th percentile in defensive efficiency when Donovan Mitchell is off of the floor this season. When both Mitchell and Darius Garland are on the sidelines, the Cavaliers rank in the 57th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 63rd percentile in defensive efficiency. Garland last played on December 29, a game in which he suffered a right thumb sprain that has forced him to miss each of the team’s last three contests. If Garland is unavailable on Friday, this offense will be missing both of their top-two scorers and top-two facilitators.

Denver Nuggets Preview

Best in the West

Entering play on Friday, Denver is tied for the best record in the Western Conference, with a 25-13 record. Playing at home this season, the Nuggets are an NBA-best 15-3 overall, and have outscored their opponents by 10.3 points per 100 possessions in those 18 games. Last night, this group easily handled the Los Angeles Clippers in a 31-point win. As a result of the blowout, only one member of the Nuggets’ starting lineup played more than 24 minutes on Thursday. Expect this group to be more rested than a team typically would be on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Jokic building case for MVP

Prior to tip-off this evening, Nikola Jokic ranks 17th among all qualified players in points per game, 7th in rebounds per game, 3rd in assists per game, and 10th in field goal percentage. During the month of December, he averaged 29.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.1 assists in 14 games. The two-time MVP has been at his best at home during the first half of the campaign, averaging a triple-double, with 25.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 10.6 assists. Expect him to be heavily involved in Denver’s offensive attack once again in this spot.

Cavaliers vs. Nuggets Pick & Prediction

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 23-12 this season when Donovan Mitchell is in the lineup, but only 2-2 in the four games in which he has been in street clothes. On Friday, Cleveland will have one of the toughest tests in basketball, traveling into Denver for a battle in the altitude against a team that has been home since Tuesday. Though the Cavaliers have a rest advantage in this matchup, they are going to find it difficult to cover the spread without all of their top offensive playmakers.

• PICK: Nuggets -5 (-120)

BetMGM Ohio Bonus Code – Cavs vs. Nuggets

Here’s how to get the current BetMGM offer using our BetMGM bonus code in a few quick steps:

1. Click here to sign up for a BetMGM account
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3. Find a wager you want to place. Our NBA betting analyst, Nick Galaida, provided his favorite bet for tonight’s matchup but there are hundreds of ways to get in on the action.
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Note: This BetMGM bonus code is eligible in all BetMGM Sportsbook states excluding New York. 

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