Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/03/2024, 06:32  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 29/03/2024 at 06:42 in NBA Predictions

The Philadelphia 76ers will head to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA on Friday night. The hosts are 44-29 and fourth in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 39-34 and eighth in the Eastern Conference. 

This marks the fourth and final encounter between these teams this season, with the 76ers holding a 2-1 series advantage. However, due to injuries, the 76ers have slipped in the standings, trailing the Pacers by 1.5 games for sixth place and the opportunity to bypass the play-in games. Despite being 11 games ahead of the Nets for a playoff berth, the 76ers find themselves in a slump, having lost four of their last five games. They’ll aim to avoid a third consecutive defeat following a narrow 108-107 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, when Tyrese Maxey led the team with 26 points. Philadelphia's offensive output ranks 16th in the NBA, averaging 114.1 points per game, while Cleveland boasts the fifth-best defense in terms of points allowed per game, conceding 109.4 points on average. Defensively, the 76ers surrender 112 points per game, placing them ninth overall. There's a glimmer of hope for the 76ers as coach Nurse hinted at the possibility of Joel Embiid returning from injury before the conclusion of the regular season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers used to be in third place, but now the Knicks have taken that spot from them. They've had a tough time lately with one of their best players, Donovan Mitchell, out injured. They lost five of their last six games, including a defeat by the Hornets on Wednesday. In that game, Jarrett Allen scored 24 points and Max Strus scored 19. The Cavaliers score 112.7 points per game, just 0.7 more than the 112 points they allow their opponents to score. Their defense has been good this season, letting in an average of 109.4 points per game, which is the fifth-best in the league. They usually give up more points when playing at home compared to away games. Two players, Dean Wade and Ty Jerome, won't be playing on Friday, and Darius Garland might not play either. Donovan Mitchell might play, but it's uncertain.