Pelicans vs Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers just snapped their skid with a 139-132 home win over Charlotte but are still only 4-6 in their last 10, while the Pelicans roar into Cleveland on a five-game winning streak after a brutal start to the season. Cleveland is 16-14 overall and 10-8 at home, compared with New Orleans’ 8-22 mark and 2-10 record on the road, but the Cavs are missing key rotation pieces Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Larry Nance Jr., which thins their frontcourt and two-way versatility even if Jarrett Allen is back in the mix. Mitchell’s long history of carving up New Orleans — from his 41-point rookie eruption and multiple high-efficiency wins with Utah to last year’s 116-95 road victory where he and Darius Garland led a 20-threes barrage — still helps tilt this matchup toward a healthier Cleveland backcourt against a Pelicans defense allowing over 122 points per game. Taking the heavy juice into account, I’m backing the Cavaliers at -400 on the moneyline and grading it a B pick: the win probability is high given home court, matchup history and star power, but New Orleans’ current surge and Cleveland’s injuries cap the value of such a steep price. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:43am

Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson have powered New Orleans’ five-game run with the Pelicans scoring north of 125 points per night over that stretch and twice playing in games that cleared 260 combined points, in line with a season profile of 115.4 scored and 122.2 allowed that screams high pace and leaky defense. Cleveland, missing defensive anchor Evan Mobley and wing stopper Max Strus, has been dragged into track meets lately, giving up 132, 136 and 127 in three of its last five while averaging about 119 points per game itself behind the shot creation of Mitchell and Garland, leading to recent totals regularly landing in the mid‑250s. With both offenses in rhythm, the Cavs’ interior and perimeter defense compromised by injuries, and New Orleans still sitting near the bottom of the league in opponent scoring despite its win streak, I like Over 240 at -115 and grade it a B pick: current form and matchup dynamics support a shootout, but the already-inflated number trims the edge just enough to keep it short of elite value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:43am

New Orleans’ five-game winning streak has coincided with Murphy’s emergence as a 20-plus point scorer, Zion’s steady downhill pressure and improved chemistry from a retooled roster, and they’ve not only won but done so with comfortable margins despite Dejounte Murray remaining out and Herbert Jones bouncing on and off the injury report as a game‑time decision. Cleveland, by contrast, has dropped three of its last five and, even with the recent home win over Charlotte, hasn’t produced a double-digit victory in that span while navigating the absences of Mobley, Strus and Nance and leaning heavily on Mitchell and Garland to carry an increasingly offense‑tilted attack. Given the Pelicans’ upgraded offensive ceiling, their ability to keep scoring even when the defense springs leaks, and a shorthanded Cavs squad that has been living in close, high‑scoring contests, I like New Orleans +9.5 at -115 against the spread and grade it a B+ pick: the cushion of nearly double digits, plus real backdoor and upset potential, offers the most attractive blend of probability and payoff on the board for this matchup. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:43am