by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Apr 08, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Where to watch: YES, Bally Sports Ohio
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Nets -6.5
BetMGM: Nets -6.5
Caesars: Nets -7
Season record
Cavs: 43-37
Nets: 42-38
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Cavs - Nets preview and analysis
Cavs analysis
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be playing the Brooklyn Nets this Friday, April 8, in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Nets are coming home from back-to-back wins, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are going in with back-to-back losses.
The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t seem to be doing so well these past few games. They’ve only won three of their past ten games. Their most recent loss was this past Tuesday, April 5, against the Orlando Magic, final score 120-115.
The Orlando Magic has been considered one of the NBA’s most offensively challenged teams. So how did the Cleveland Cavaliers give up 120 points?
“It was a game that obviously had a lot of implications and we just got out-competed,” said Kevin Love, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland. “We definitely need a better effort than we had tonight. We let their record, and who they have out, dictate how we played.”
This loss wouldn’t sting so much being that the final score was only a 5 point difference. However, the Orlando Magic came into this game with a six game losing streak. Could this knowledge have given the Cavaliers a false sense of confidence going into this game? Possibly already setting themselves up for failure?
“There is no overlooking in this league,” said Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “Tonight, time and time again, they outworked us. Give them credit, but it’s disappointing. We didn’t get the job done. We didn't show the fight that we needed to show."
Hopefully the Cavaliers can put in the work and have something to show for it Friday.
Nets analysis
The Brooklyn Nets seem to be in the opposite position of the Cavaliers going into this Friday’s game. Having won six of their past ten games, they seem to be sitting comfortably at the moment. However, as anyone would not in this industry, comfortable is not where you wanna be.
Their previous game was just up the road to Knicks territory where they beat the New York Knicks 110-98 in the traditional New York basketball rivalry.
Kevin Durant had a bit of fun messing with the NYC team. He’s always enjoyed being part of the New York rivalry, and when it comes to the Knicks, he’s always ensured he has the last word. Durant had 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, bringing the Brooklyn Nets back from 21 points down.
Kevin Durant hasn’t lost a game against the Knicks in nine years, with the last loss in 2013 in Oklahoma City.
"It's all fun at the end of the day, it's all funny, but people respect my decision.," Durant said. "They respect my game, but I understand how big Knicks-Nets is in the city so I'm just trying to embrace it."
Kyrie Irving added 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Nets, beating the Knicks for the seventh straight time, making this their longest winning streak in the local rivalry since 1984-1986. The longest record was 11 games straight.
"We know how much Knicks fans don't like us, especially now this era of the Nets, with us not choosing the Knicks, me and Kyrie. So it definitely adds something to the rivalry," Durant said.
We can talk all we want about the fun of the rivalry and how entertaining these two teams are when they get together, but we can’t ignore one key part of the game. With Durant and Irving playing the entire second half on the second night of a back-to-back, Brooklyn outscored New York 60-31.
We never wanna get our hopes up with numbers like that, but it’s hard not to.
Prediction
The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers this upcoming Friday night. If they win and beat Indiana in their regular-season finale, they would finish seventh and need to win one game in two chances at home in the play-in to qualify for the post season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently trying to cling to the top spot in the play-in tournament. They’ve got two more chances in the regular season, against Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
In the end, the chances seem higher for the Nets with the trajectory they’re on, while the Cavaliers seem to be losing steam. Nets by 10
Betting trends
Cavs are 22-17 ATS this season as an underdog.
Cavs are 28-51 ATS the past three seasons when playing six games or more in 10 days.
Nets are 8-30 ATS at home this season.
Nets are 4-25 ATS as a home favorite this season.
Projected starting lineup
Cavs:
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Caris LeVert
SF: Isaac Okoro
PF: Lauri Markkanen
C: Moses Brown
Nets:
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Bruce Brown
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Andre Drummond
Key injuries
Cavs: Evan Mobley (ankle, out), Jarrett Allen (finger, out), Dean Wade (knee, out), Collin Sexton (knee, out)
Nets: Ben Simmons (back, out), Goran Dragic (COVID, out), Joe Harris (ankle, out)
Statistical leaders
Cavs:
Points: Darius Garland -- 21.7
Rebounds: Jarrett Allen -- 10.8
Assists: Darius Garland -- 8.7
Nets:
Points: Kevin Durant -- 29.9
Rebounds: Andre Drummond -- 9.2
Assists: Kevin Durant -- 6.2
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
