NBA Wednesday Tips: Cavaliers still laughing as All-Star break approaches

With the midpoint of the NBA season fast approaching, victories for play-off calibre sides count for plenty. Basketball expert Mark Woods previews three of the most important games on Wednesday. 

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers

Tipoff: 12.30am Thursday GMT

Fourth in the Eastern Conference visits third in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening as the Cavaliers boast an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals before the NBA All-Star hiatus.

Cleveland will travel with ample confidence after recording seven consecutive victories, underlining their growth this term. During that streak, they have held opponents to an extraordinary average of 99.6 points per contest while winning by an average of 16 points per game. It will come as no surprise that the Cavs continue to head the league in defensive rating.

Late-winter has not been the toughest block in their calendar but they have made it count. Now comes more of a statement duel against a Philadelphia side that has won three on the bounce and 12 out of 15. It’s the kind of night when the Cavaliers might prove their worth, or suggest they are just a little short of the stellar trio above them in the East. 

It is their form on the road that has bedevilled their cause. Just 13-16 on their travels, the Cavs average 3.8 points (109.8) fewer away from their own building with a notable drop in points differential from 8.8 to 2.6. Perhaps an inexperience gap - a weakness they’ve attempted to address with the acquisition of Danny Green. Even with Donovan Mitchell notching 27.2 ppg, extra size and shooting in their backcourt would do no harm at all. 

The 76ers are an impressive 22-8 at home despite averaging 115.8 (seventh overall) in scoring. That’s just 0.1 below their overall mark in their last 15 appearances. Led by Joel Embiid’s 33.2 points and 10.1 rebounds, they have been nothing if consistent and have a knack of pulling it out of the fire in close games (7-3 in contests decided by four points or fewer).

Although the Cavaliers prevailed 113-85 when these rivals squared off at the start of December, the guests will face a more arduous battle to extend their unbroken run this time. Take the 76ers. 

Prediction: 76ers -5 @ 2.24

Miami Heat @ Brooklyn Nets

Tipoff: 12.30am Thursday GMT

What a difference a fortnight makes. On January 31, Brooklyn was shrugging off a spell on the sidelines for leading scorer Kevin Durant by walloping the short-handed Lakers, courtesy of 26 points from Kyrie Irving, to improve to 31-19.

Fast forward past the trading deadline and both All Stars have been moved on. In their place comes a fistful of quality complementary pieces (one dysfunctional past All-Star remains) but the stellar squad is no more and they’ve plummeted to odds of 160 for the title.

Kevin Durant: was traded away from the Nets before the deadline

We surely received a glimpse of their offensive failures going into the second half of the regular season in the Nets’ 124-106 defeat to the New York Knicks on Monday. Already regressing to fifth in the East, the markets price them at 1.06 to still make the playoffs. Given the ferocious scrap for spots below, the generous odds of 5.3 for Brooklyn to miss the post-season entirely following their roster teardown look ripe indeed.

Miami is best-placed to profit from their fall. One place and one win adrift in the standings, the Heat are out to avenge a 102-101 loss to their rivals last month. Averaging 108.1 points on the road, their last 11 games – during which they have gone 7-4 - have been decided by eight points or less.

All the Nets can do is try to hang on with that degree of tenacity. With less talent, gravity is not their friend.

Prediction: Heat -3 @ 2.21

New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Lakers

Tipoff: 3am Thursday GMT

The Lakers’ trading frenzy improved the shape of their squad, but it stunk of desperation. Their best player is LeBron James, who remains majestic at 38-years-old but is also injury-prone. Anthony Davis, likewise, despite his comparative youth. 

LA has lost four out of five with attention on their ills diverted by James’ becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. Priced at 2.68 to make the playoffs, that feels like a losing bet with only two teams below them in the West for this simple reason: the Lakers give up 118.4 ppg – fourth-worst in the whole league.

Meanwhile the Pelicans, who beat the Lakers 131-126 less than two weeks ago, possess enough firepower to cover the spread and make LeBron wince even more. 

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans Money Line @ 2.22 

NBA Wednesday Tips

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers -5 @ 2.24
Miami Heat @ Brooklyn Nets: Heat -3 @ 2.21
New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Lakers: Pelicans Money Line @ 2.22