Without LeBron James playing against the team he helped take to four straight NBA Finals and two championships, the Cavs fell at Miami Saturday for their third straight loss.
LeBron will be rested and ready to go when the Cavaliers host the Blazers, who are playing their third game in four nights when they visit The Q.
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SCHEDULING
The NBA schedule makers didn’t do the Blazers any favors when putting this stretch of games together. Portland plays four road games in seven nights with the first three coming in a span of four days. After squeaking by Minnesota on Saturday, the Blazers play a back-to-back with Monday’s game at Milwaukee followed by a quick trip to Cleveland to battle the Cavs on Tuesday. It’ll be the sixth set of back-to-backs for the Blazers and they haven’t fared too well in the first five. Portland is 1-4 SU and ATS in the second of consecutive games this year and has dropped the last three.
After losing three straight games, the Cavaliers have a few days to stew over the skid that has dropped them below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings. Cleveland dropped its last game at The Q, falling to the Wizards last Tuesday, for its only home loss of the season so far. The Cavs are 9-1 SU but only 4-6 ATS at home this season. This game splits a pair of two-game road trips before the Cavs return for three more home games.
INJURIES
Reserve center/forward Chris Kaman is out with an ankle injury and questionable to play on the road trip. The Blazers did get Myers Leonard back from his separated shoulder and he’s relinquished his starting role to Noah Vonleh.
Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are progressing from their injuries and returned to practice in a limited role, but both are still some time away from returning to the Cavaliers lineup. Irving is recovering from off season knee surgery and could be back in the lineup by Christmas. Shumpert is likely out until after the New Year.
KEY MATCHUP
A rested LeBron James isn’t what the Blazers want to face in their third game in four nights. James sat out Saturday’s game in Miami to rest after logging 45 minutes in an overtime loss to New Orleans the night before. Even though the team had a couple days off following the Heat game, coach David Blatt elected to rest his superstar and the Cavs fell for the third consecutive time. Had things gone differently in New Orleans, mainly no overtime and herculean effort by James to overcome a 13-point fourth quarter deficit, things may have played out differently in Miami, but the Cavs have a plan in place to keep their 31-year-old star rested for another anticipated postseason run, even if James isn’t pleased about sitting out. With Irving and Shumpert still out due to injury and Kevin Love not picking up the slack, James should have free run to ignite the Cavs’ offense. And still a little angry over sitting, though he knows it’s best for the team in the long run, expect a rested James to have his way with a Blazers team that really doesn’t have anyone to defend him.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
Not much is expected from the Blazers this season after losing four starters from last year’s division-winning team. But Portland has been a pleasant surprise with a dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum paving the way. But, let’s be real, they aren’t as talented as the Cavs and Cleveland shouldn’t have much trouble ending a three-game slide. The Cavs are still without their expected starting backcourt with Irving and Shumpert recovering from injuries and LeBron didn’t play in the loss at Miami on Saturday. The Cavs have a few days off and the Blazers will be playing the second of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights when invading The Q. Expect LeBron to have a big night and Love will bounce back from his poor effort now that The King is back.
Cleveland 111, Portland 98
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