Cavaliers vs Thunder Predictions, Odds & Player Props (Jan 16)

By Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball
Published:

- The OKC Thunder are 2.5-point favorites vs the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night
- It’s a rematch of the top teams in each conference – the Cavs won the epic first meeting
- Below, see the Cavs vs Thunder odds, player props and predictions for Jan. 16
Just over a week after their first heavyweight tilt, the Cleveland Cavaliers (34-5, 14-3 away) and Oklahoma City Thunder (33-6, 17-2 home) meet for the final time in regular season Thursday. In this potential NBA Finals matchup, both currently sit first in their respective conferences, and are better than six games up on their closest chasers. Action gets underway at 7:30pm ET from Paycom Center in OKC. Cleveland will be set as an underdog for the first time in its last 23 games.
Cavaliers vs Thunder Odds
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Cleveland Cavaliers | +2.5 (-105) | +125 | Over 233.5 (-105) |
Oklahoma City Thunder | -2.5 (-115) | -150 | Under 233.5 (-115) |
The Thunder are slight 2.5-point favorites in the NBA odds, with the Cavaliers pegged as as +125 ‘dogs on the moneyline. The game total is sitting at 233.5.

The Thunder will be shorthanded up front, as big man Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) was injured last game vs Philadelphia and will be re-evaluated in one week. OKC is already without Chet Holmgren (hip).
For Cleveland, guard Ty Jerome (illness) is listed as questionable Thursday, while forward Emoni Bates (knee) has already been ruled out.
CLE vs OKC Player Props
Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
|
32.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 5.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | 5.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) |
Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
|
21.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 5.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 3.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) |
Jalen Williams (OKC)
|
21.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 6.5 (Ov +114 | Un -145) | 5.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 1.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) |
Darius Garland (CLE)
|
19.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 2.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) | 6.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) |
Evan Mobley (CLE)
|
18.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 10.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 4.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) |
Jarrett Allen (CLE)
|
13.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 10.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | OFF | OFF |
NBA player props as of January 16 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on all the NBA action on Thursday night.
Not surprising that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the second-leading scorer in the NBA has the highest scoring prop at 32.5 points. One of the contenders in the NBA MVP odds, SGA has hit the 30-point plateau 15 times in his last 21 outings. He went for 31 in the first matchup.
Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Williams share the second-highest scoring number at 21.5, while Darius Garland has the top assist total at 6.5.
With the depleted Thunder frontcourt, the books have set both Cavalier big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, at 10.5 rebounds.
Cavaliers vs Thunder Predictions
Nothing has changed statistically since the last time these teams met in Cleveland on January 8, with the Cavaliers rolling to a 129-122 victory.
Cleveland is the second-highest scoring team in the Association at 122.3 points per game, leading the league in both field goal and 3-point shooting.
The Thunder are still the stingiest, allowing an NBA-low 103.4 points per game, holding teams to the lowest field goal and 3-point shooting splits across the league.
If you’re not including the NBA Cup final loss to the Bucks (as it doesn’t count in the standings), the Cavs are the only team to beat the Thunder over their last 19 games. Since that loss, OKC has laid the wood to the Knicks, Wizards and 76ers, winning all three with an average margin of victory of 27.3 points.
The product of consistency 🤌
Vote Shai 🗳️ https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/0OjpzPu352
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 15, 2025
Cleveland has only two losses since Dec 1, also covering 19 games. Since beating the Thunder, though, it’s been a slight slog. They won by six over the Raptors, before their 12-game win streak was detonated against Indiana. The 108-93 loss was the Cavs’ biggest defeat of the year and lowest scoring output. They did bounce back the next game, though, dumping the Pacers by 10.
Lining up against the Thunder again might be the emotional jolt they need to get back to that level of play before the mega matchup, when they won 10 in a row, all by double figures.
OKC has the best home record in the West, and have won nine straight in their barn, while the Cavs have won and covered six straight on the road.
This should be an OKC win, but injuries are muddling it up. The Thunder are going to need to go small out of necessity, and outscore their size problems, which could lead to a shootout.
They’re equipped, having gone Over the total in four straight. Ditto the Cavs, who have cashed the Over in five of their last seven games.
Cavaliers vs Thunder Picks:
- Over 233.5 (-105)
- Mobley Over 10.5 assists (+105)
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Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.