Suns vs Cavaliers Odds, Lines & Picks (Jan. 4)
- Cleveland is laying 5 points in the Suns vs Cavaliers odds on Wednesday
- Darius Garland (thumb) is doubtful, while Evan Mobley (ankle) is questionable
- Don’t miss the latest Suns vs Cavaliers odds and predictions
Fresh off a franchise record 71 points, Cleveland fans have to be wondering what Donovan Mitchell has up his sleeve for an encore.
Mitchell’s outrageous performance in Monday’s 145-134 victory over Chicago was the most points in a game since Kobe Bryant dropped 81 back in 2006.
Whatever Mitchell has in store, oddsmakers expect it to be enough to help lead his Cavaliers to another victory on Wednesday. Cleveland (24-14, 17-4 home) will take on a struggling Phoenix Suns team (20-18, 6-13 away), with online sportsbooks giving the Cavs preferential treatment in the NBA odds.
Suns vs Cavaliers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +5 (-106) | +176 | OFF |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | -5 (-114) | -210 | OFF |
Odds as of January 3 at FanDuel. Sign-up at FanDuel Sportsbook Ohio to bet on the Suns vs Cavaliers game. Existing FanDuel customers can take advantage of today’s Super Boost to get +100 odds on a single rebound being recorded in the game.
Cleveland opened up as 5-point favorites, in a game without a total as of Tuesday night. Injury concerns are the primary reason no over/under is listed. Wednesday’s NBA starting lineups will likely show a shorthanded Cavaliers team – more on that later.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm ET at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, a building where the Cavs have dominated in all year.
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Suns vs Cavaliers Betting Analysis
Back to Mitchell, who tied the game versus the Bulls in the final seconds of regulation off an intentional missed free throw, before putting Chicago away with 13 points in OT.
Mitchell shot 22-of-34 from the field, including 7-of-15 from three. He made 25 free throws, and also chipped in a career-high 11 assists and eight rebounds.
After starting his tenure off in Cleveland like an NBA MVP odds contender, Mitchell actually began 2023 in an offensive funk. He was averaging only 17.5 points over his previous four games, shooting 32.9% along the way. Those struggles are in the rearview mirror now, and Mitchell needed to be so efficient against Chicago with a pair of fellow starters hurting.
New Year New Me😂… 71 of them thangs ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/eqTSqAEKk8
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 3, 2023
Both Darius Garland (thumb) and Evan Mobley (ankle) sat out Monday’s contest. Garland has missed the last two games and is listed as doubtful for Wednesday. The fourth year guard ranks sixth in the league in assists per outing (7.8) and top-30 in scoring (21.4 ppg). He’s struggled to stay healthy, but surprisingly Cleveland has excelled without him.
The Cavs are a perfect 8-0 without Garland this season, which is shocking given his scoring and distributing prowess. Cleveland did get some good news on Tuesday as it looks like Mobley should be available to play. Mobley has also missed back-to-back games, and at 6-foot-11 he’s a force down low alongside Jarrett Allen.
The twin towers dominate the paint in their own end, and are a big reason why the Cavs lead the NBA in defensive rating.
NBA Defensive Rating
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 4 |
| LA Clippers | 5 |
| Phoenix Suns | 13 |
Phoenix meanwhile, will also be missing a superstar. Leading scorer Devin Booker remains out with a groin injury that’s expected to sideline him another 3-4 weeks. Booker has missed six of the last eight games, with the Suns posting a dismal 2-6 record during that stretch.
Mentally preparing myself to watch the Suns play without Devin Booker again. pic.twitter.com/V2V83uI5Vg
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) December 23, 2022
Phoenix enters play fresh off three straight defeats, losing by 19, 9 and 25 points in those contests. Over their last eight outings they rank 28th in net rating and 21st on offense. They’ve failed to eclipse 104 points in three straight, and four times in the last five games Booker has sat.
Suns vs Cavaliers Predictions
With Booker healthy, Phoenix is a legit NBA Championship odds contender. Without him, they’re a below league-average team. The Suns are 2-7 without him in 2022-23, with an average margin of defeat of 13.7 points.
Booker’s offense is going to be sorely missed against the league’s number one defense, and to make matters worse, the Suns are also down their fourth leading scorer Cameron Johnson (knee).
Cleveland on the other hand, is not being given the credit it deserves for how well they’ve played without Garland. Not only are they a perfect 8-0 without him, but seven of those eight games have been decided by 9 or more points. They’re averaging 120 points per game in those outings, while still maintaining the same defensive standard they’ve shown all season.
NBA Top ATS Records
| Team | ATS Record |
|---|---|
| Portland Trail Blazers | 22-14-0 |
| Indiana Pacers | 23-15-0 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 21-14-1 |
| OKC Thunder | 21-15-0 |
| Boston Celtics | 21-16-0 |
| New York Knicks | 20-16-2 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 19-16-3 |
It would be foolish to expect another Mitchell performance like we saw on Tuesday, but even an average game from him with how well his teammates are playing, and the Suns recent form, should result in a Cavs cover.
Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -5 (-114)
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
