Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for the San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA matchup.

Tipping off across Friday’s 12-game NBA slate, the San Antonio Spurs will face off with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both these teams have battled some injuries in the early stages of this season, but have had different levels of success in overcoming these problems. This is the first matchup of the season between these cross-conference teams.

Looking at the odds for tonight, the Cavaliers enter as 4.5-point favorites and hold -185 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Spurs hold +154 odds of winning outright with the game total set at 239.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Friday night matchup.

Spurs at Cavaliers Preview

The San Antonio Spurs hold a 15-6 record on the season and enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak, having won seven of their last nine. The Spurs are 11-8-2 against the spread this season, with the over cashing in 11 of their 21 games.

Victor Wembanyama is set to miss his 10th consecutive game due to a calf issue, which does not have a timetable for his return yet. Stephon Castle has also been ruled out for this matchup with a hip injury, while Luke Kornet is questionable with ankle soreness.

De’Aaron Fox headlines the production with 25.0 points and 6.3 assists per game. Second-overall pick Dylan Harper has overall impressed with 13.6 points and 3.5 assists of his own, while Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes combine for 28.9 points per game while each shooting 38.9%+ on three-point attempts. Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, and Kelly Olynyk round out most of their notable depth.

As a team, San Antonio is producing 119.0 points per game, which ranks 11th, and they are producing the eighth-best offensive rating. The Spurs rank sixth in field goal percentage, 13th in three-point percentage, and 11th in rebounds per game. Defensively, opponents are scoring 113.8 points per game against them, which ranks ninth in the league. They are generating the eighth-best defensive rating and holding opponents to the fourth-worst three-point percentage.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 13-10 record on the season. They have lost three of their last four games entering this matchup. Cleveland is just 7-16 against the spread on the year, and the under has cashed in 13 of their 23 games.

They enter this matchup with a lengthy injury report. Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, Tyrese Proctor, and Sam Merrill are all set to miss for their respective injuries.

Donovan Mitchell has led the team all season and enters with averages of 30.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. Evan Mobley leads the team with 9.0 rebounds per game, along with his 19.0 points and 4.1 assists. De’Andre Hunter adds 16.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson leads the team with a 47.6% three-point percentage, along with 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball, Thomas Bryant, and Dean Wade round out most of their notable depth.

Cleveland is generating 119.1 points per contest, which ranks 10th in the NBA. They rank 20th in field goal percentage, 22nd in three-point percentage, and 12th in offensive rating while launching the most perimeter attempts of any team in the league. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against them, which ranks 14th in the league. The Cavaliers rank 13th in opponents’ field goal percentage, 18th in opponents’ three-point percentage, and 13th in defensive rating.

Spurs at Cavaliers Prediction, Best Bet

The Spurs are still not seeing their respect from oddsmakers, and this is another example of this being the case. Cleveland does not look like a team with a clear identity, which is a stark difference from the team last year, which finished the season with an Eastern Conference-leading 64-18 record. They were an elite offensive team last season and respectable defensively, but have taken a step back in both areas this season.

While the Spurs will not reach their peak as a team until Victor Wembanyama returns, they are plenty capable of beating up on lesser opponents. Their five losses on the season have come against the Suns twice, the Warriors twice, and the Timberwolves. You can poke some holes in their strength of schedule, but they still have some notable victories over the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Magic in the last week alone.

San Antonio is not quite the elite defensive team they are with Wembanyama on the floor. But they still have continually made life hard for opponents, and this should be expected to be the case tonight. Cleveland lives by the three and dies by the three, but their 22nd-ranked efficiency has not served them well. This will especially be the case with the Spurs holding opponents to the 27th-ranked three-point percentage and doing a nice job chasing opponents off the line overall.

De’Aaron Fox has settled down in San Antonio and has the talent level to go head-to-head with Donovan Mitchell. The supporting cast of the Spurs is more trustworthy, and expect this to be a factor tonight. Count on the Spurs’ defense to have some success and for the Cavaliers to be unable to push the scoring to a level that can put the game away. I am backing the Spurs to win this game outright and look like the better team throughout. Mitchell deserves credit for playing like one of the best players in the league this season, but it will take more than just him to get a result tonight. Count on the depth of the Spurs shining through against a shorthanded Cavaliers squad and for the outright upset to occur.

Best Bet: Spurs Moneyline (+154)