Cavaliers vs. 76ers forecast, odds, pick, spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers will fight with Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. It will be a showdown in Philly as we continue our NBA odds series and make a Cavaliers-76ers prediction and pick.

The 76ers lead the series 118-111. However, the Cavs won their first two games this season, winning 114-106 in Philadelphia Nov 13, 2024 and 126-99 at home on Dec 21, 2024 The 76ers and Cavaliers have split their last 10 games, but the Sixers are 3-2 in their last five home games against the Cavaliers.

Here are the Cavaliers-76ers NBA oddscourtesy of FanDuel.

NBA Odds: Cavaliers-76ers odds

Cleveland Cavaliers: -10.5 (-110)

Coins: -500

Philadelphia 76ers: +10.5 (-110)

Moneiline: +385

More: 228 (-108)

Under: 228 (-112)

How to watch Cavaliers vs. 76ers

Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia and FanDuel Sports Ohio

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*

Why the Cavaliers could cover the spread/win

The Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA and have the most explosive offense in the league. In addition, they beat teams on defense, holding the Phoenix Suns to 92 points a few days ago. Even when things go wrong and they lose a game or two, the Cavs are still elite and confident that they can always come back.

Darius Garland couldn’t hit the game-winning free throws on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, resulting in a 109-108 loss. Regardless, the Cavs are still 36-7 and lead the Boston Celtics by 5 1/2 games for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They have built a big cushion because of consistent play and good fundamentals.

When the Cavaliers destroyed the 76ers last month, they did it by building a lead in the second quarter and then running away in the third. Notably, Garland was the hero in that game, scoring 26 points while shooting 9-for-11, including 6-for-7 from the three-point line. Evan Mobley was also excellent, adding 22 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10 for 14. Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points while shooting 7 for 16, including 4 for 10 from the three-point line.

The bench was outstanding, with Georges Niang scoring 13 points, Ty Jerome adding 11 and Caris LeVert scoring 12. Overall, the Cavs shot 53.3 percent in that game, including 51.2 percent from three. The Cavaliers also held the 76ers to 40 percent from the floor, including 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. Moreover, the Cavs also won the battle 49-41, including 13 offensive rebounds. The Cavaliers also had eight steals and one blocked shot. In the end, the only question was the 13 turnovers.

The Cavaliers will cover the spread if they can continue to shoot the ball well and be efficient on offense. Next, they must continue to play outstanding defense.

Why the 76ers could cover the spread/win

Joel Embiid can’t stay healthyand the 76ers have been riddled with injuries all season. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out well for a team that many believed would challenge the Celtics for the top seed in the East. Still, this team can still be competitive, even without Embiid.

The last time they played the Cavaliers at home, Embiid didn’t play. Surprisingly, they put together a strong second quarter before building a 54-48 lead at halftime before collapsing in the second half.

Jared McCann, who is currently injured, scored 34 points in that game while shooting 12-for-26 from the floor, including 6-for-13 from 3-point range. Kelly Oubre was also solid, adding 20 points while shooting 8 for 14 from the field. Likewise, Caleb Martin, who is also dealing with an injury, added 18 points in that game while shooting 8-for-13 from the floor.

The Sixers will need all of Tyrese Maxey, and he had 27 points in the loss. They will also need Paul George to play well, which was not the case the last time the Cavs and Sixers met, and he finished with 11 points. The 76ers shot 44.6 percent from the field, including 32.6 percent from three. Moreover, they lost the battle on the boards 46-45 in their home game against the Cavs. Winning a board battle can change this game.

The 76ers will cover the spread if they can shoot the ball well. Then, they have to box out and prevent the Cavaliers from getting more chances at the rim.

Final Cavaliers-76ers Prediction & Pick

The Cavaliers are 29-14 against the spread, while the 76ers are 13-27-2 against the spread. Furthermore, the Cavs are 14-6 against the spread on the road, while the Sixers are 4-14-1 against the spread at home. The Cavaliers are 17-11 against the spread when facing the Eastern Conference, while the 76ers are 11-15 against the spread when facing the East.

The Cavaliers are the better team by miles. Conversely, the 76ers are terrible right now. I can see the Cavaliers going into Philly and beating them again, probably beating them by 10 points.

Cavaliers-76ers Finals Prediction and Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers: -10.5 (-110)