The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Cavaliers-Nets prediction and pick.

 

This is a hugely important game for both of these teams. The Cavaliers are currently 43-37, a record that has them in the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The Nets are 42-38, only a game behind Cleveland. If the Cavaliers win here, they'll likely cost into the postseason entrenched as the seventh seed. Brooklyn, on the other hand, needs a win here to try and avoid playing as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Regardless of the records at play here, this should be an entertaining matchup, so let's get into the pick.

Here are the Cavaliers-Nets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NBA Odds: Cavaliers-Nets Odds

Cleveland Cavaliers: +8.5 (-110)

Brooklyn Nets: -8.5 (-110)

Over: 232.5 (-110)

Under: 232.5 (-110)

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Why The Cavaliers Could Cover The Spread

Cleveland's defense will likely be the reason they hang around in this game. The Cavaliers have been one of the better defensive teams in the NBA this season, only allowing 105 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. They also hold their opponents to 51% shooting from two-point range, an important statistic against a Brooklyn team that shoots the third-least threes per game in the NBA. Defending the Nets is a tough task, but there's a chance that the Cavs are up to the challenge.

The Nets have been one of the worst teams at covering the spread. Overall, Brooklyn owns a record of 31-47-2 against the spread, including a 4-25-1 record as home favorites. That record is easily the worst in the league in that category, an encouraging sign for the Cavaliers. Cleveland actually has a winning record ATS, as they've gone 41-35-4. The Cavs are also 14-11-1 against the spread as road underdogs, making this an appealing spot to pick Cleveland.

Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread

Brooklyn won't be facing a fully healthy Cavaliers team. Rookie power forward Evan Mobley is questionable for Friday's matchup, and he's a crucial part of everything that Cleveland does. Even if Mobley does play, he'll likely be on a minutes restriction, as he's returning from a somewhat serious ankle injury. Star center Jarrett Allen remains sidelined with a long-term finger injury. Brooklyn shouldn't have too much trouble against a team that could be missing two of their best overall players.

These teams have already played each other three times, with the Nets winning two of those matchups. In one Brooklyn home game, the Cavs played without Mobley and Allen and ended up losing by ten points. Another, the Nets beat them by five on the road. In the lone game, the Cavaliers won, and the Nets were without superstar forward Kevin Durant. This is clearly a matchup that Brooklyn is comfortable with, and that won't change against an injured Cleveland squad.

Final Cavaliers-Nets Prediction & Pick

The Nets have been completely unreliable as home favorites, and the Cavaliers aren't a particularly appealing pick either. Instead, the under is the best pick on the board. Lock it in and don't look back.

Final Cavaliers-Nets Prediction & Pick: Under: 232.5 (-110)