Trent Reinsmith
- What: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2022
- Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: Bally Sports SW-DAL, Bally Sports Ohio, NBA League Pass
Two teams who hope to make deep playoff runs at the end of the 2023 NBA season face off tonight when the Cleveland Cavaliers meet the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.
Cleveland is on a brief two-game road trip to Texas. The Eastern Conference club opened that run on Monday with a 112-111 setback to the San Antonio Spurs. Overall the Cavs are 17-11 on the season and 4-6 against Western Conference opposition. The team is 5-9 on the road.
Dallas enters tonight’s game coming off a 121-114 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks are 14-13 on the 2023 NBA season, with a 5-8 record against Eastern Conference teams. Dallas has an 11-4 record at American Airlines Center.
Before we dive into the betting breakdown for tonight’s NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Dallas Mavericks picks – December 14, 2022
| Teams |  |  |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +120 | +115 |
| Dallas Mavericks | -140 | -135 |
Cleveland Cavaliers breakdown
The Cavaliers finished the 2022 NBA season with a 44-38 record. The team is expected to have a much better showing in the 2023 season. With the club’s start, it looks like they have a good chance to live up to those expectations. Cleveland opened the 2023 season with a loss to the Toronto Raptors. After that, the Cavs went on an eight-game winning streak. However, a five-game losing skid followed that run. The team then won four straight. However, the Cavs have struggled with consistency since then, going 5-5 in their past 10 games.
The Cavaliers have an outstanding young core. Donovan Mitchell leads the team in points (29.0), steals (1.4) and minutes (36.7). Meanwhile, Jarret Allen is the club’s leader in rebounds and Evan Mobley is tops in blocks (1.4). Cleveland also has Darius Garland, who is second in scoring with 21.4 points per game and leads the team in assists with 7.9.
Cleveland is one of the lowest-scoring road teams in the NBA in 2023. The club averages 107.9 points per game on the road. However, the Cavs’ defense is excellent away from home. Only the Milwaukee Bucks give up fewer points in away games. Cleveland surrenders an average of 106.8 points on the road.
Dallas Mavericks breakdown
Dallas opened the season with a 2-3 record. The team picked things up for a stretch between October 30 and November 18, when they went 7-3. However, a rough run of 1-5 came after that stretch. Dallas is on a 4-3 run in their last seven games.
Luka Doncic leads the Mavericks and it’s no surprise that he is at top of the team in most stats this early in the 2023 NBA season. Doncic leads Dallas in points (33.1), rebounds (8.6), assists (8.8), steals (1.7) and minutes on the court (36.8). The only significant stat Doncic is not leading the Mavericks in is blocks. Maxi Kleber is tops in that stat with 1. Spencer Dinwiddie is the No. 2 scorer on the Mavs with 16.8 points per game.
Dallas is in the bottom half of the league in scoring at home with an average of 112 points. On the defensive side of the ball, the Mavericks are the second-best team in the league, allowing their opponents to score 105.1 points per game.
Our pick
Neither of these teams has been consistent as of late, but the Dallas Mavericks have Luca Doncic and he has proven to be a difference-maker throughout his NBA career. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell looks like he will one day be in that category, but he is not there yet. The best bet in tonight’s NBA game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks is to pick Dallas to win.
Pick: Dallas Mavericks to beat Cleveland Cavaliers.
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