Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/28/2021

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA

Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports Ohio

DraftKings: Cavaliers -4.5

BetMGM: Cavaliers -4.5

Caesars: NL

Cavaliers: 20-13 (5th place, Eastern Conference)

Pelicans: 12-22 (14th place, Western Conference)

Cavs: won 144-9 vs. Raptors on Sunday

Pelicans: lost 117-112 at Thunder on Sunday

You’d have to go back to the 1980s to find the last time the Cleveland Cavaliers had any sort of success without LeBron James, right?

At 20-13, the Cavs’ renaissance has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the NBA. They’ll look to keep that going Tuesday when they visit the surging New Orleans Pelicans in the bayou.

Cleveland’s 10-10 start through 20 games was already impressive in of itself. No one really believed the Cavs would stay afloat for even that long; it’s a young team that, if you allowed them, would be given another year or two on this timeline. But since winning only nine of their first 19, the Cavs are on an 11-3 run over their last 14 and are third in the Central Division behind the Chicago Bulls and defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs are coming off a 144-99 win over the depleted Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Six players scored in double figures, including a team-high 22 points from Kevin Love and Darius Garland. Lauri Markkanen added 20 points, and even a season-high 17 points from former first-round pick Denzel Valentine.

"We're lucky to be in this position where we've got such a good thing going on," Markkanen said. "We play hard and we play unselfish basketball. Once we brought the energy we needed, the floodgates just kind of opened up after that."

The Cavs had 39 assists, two off the league-lead, and the sudden improvements were notable enough for Cleveland to give coach J.B. Bickerstaff a contract extension on Christmas morning that runs through the 2026-27 season. Bickerstaff was promoted to the job on Feb. 19, 2020 after replacing John Beilein.

"If you look at our roster, we've got guys locked in here for a long time," said Bickerstaff, who is 47-69 with the Cavaliers. "Now, with this coaching staff, we're locked in for a long time, too."

That roster is surrounded by young guys that not only are contributing right now, but are part of the core for the future. Evan Mobley, Cleveland’s No. 3 overall pick, is averaging 14 point and 8.3 rebounds and is considered the early front-runner for Rookie of the Year. There’s also big man Jarrett Allen, who is turning in an All-Star-caliber season at 17 points and 11 rebounds. Both are in health and safety protocols right now, but the Cavs have found ways to win games; whether it’s depth, or a COVID outbreak from early in the season.

The Cavs have eight players averaging double digits in points, led by second-year guard Garland’s 19.5 along with 7.3 assists.

I look at all those contributions and think what would happen if New Orleans had even that ounce of depth. The Pelicans have gone through the first quarter-plus of the season without Zion Williamson, who will miss more time with his injured right foot. The excitement surrounding the Pelicans has faded, but New Orleans has won four of five despite coming off a 5-point loss Sunday to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Pelicans All-Star forward Brandon Ingram left Sunday’s game with an Achilles injury and is doubtful for Tuesday. Ingram was averaging 29 points during a four-game winning streak that was ended. Josh Hart led New Orleans with 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Garret Temple had 22 off the bench.

While on a 5-2 run in their last seven, the Pelicans are 4-3 against the spread in that stretch. The Cavs have gone 9-1 ATS in their last 10; the only loss was the 10-point loss to the Boston Celtics in which Cleveland was 6.5-point dogs.

The Cavs are 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings in New Orleans and 3-7 overall, but it’s a different time right now. Even without Allen and Mobley, Cleveland is in a better position than New Orleans sans Ingram and Williamson. This has the makings of a strong night from Garland and Love again. Cavs by 14

The Cavs are 10-2 ATS in December.

The Cavs are 15-1 ATS this season after covering four or five of six.

The Cavs are 19-4 ATS following a game where they covered.

The Pelicans are 40-43 ATS over the past three seasons at home.

PG: Ricky Rubio

SG: Darius Garland
SF: Lauri Markkanen
PF: Dean Wade
C: Kevin Love

PG: Devonte’ Graham

SG: Garrett Temple
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas

Cavaliers: Evan Mobley (COVID, out), Jarrett Allen (COVID, out), Cedi Osman (COVID, out), Ed Davis (COVID, out), Collin Sexton (knee, out)

Pelicans: Brandon Ingram (Achlles, questionable), Zion Williamson (foot, out), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (COVID, out)