The NBA games betting odds favor the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Portland Trailblazers in what will be, barring any unforeseen event, point guard Isaiah Thomas’s debut with the King’s Court. “It’s been a long process for me,” Thomas said. “It’s been a frustrating and tough process, but at the same time you got to trust it. I just attacked it every day to try to get better and now that day is here. I haven’t played in so long, so man it’s going to be a weird feeling tomorrow, but I’m happy. I’m happy it’s here.”
Let IT begin!@isaiahthomas will make his season debut tomorrow night in #CavsBlazers. pic.twitter.com/6FVVKknG0l
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 1, 2018
Isaiah Thomas’s debut with the King’s Court
- Date: Tuesday, January 2
- Time: 7:10 PM
- Venue: Quicken Loans Arena
Sportsbook odds for people betting on NBA games:
Trailblazers +8 (-110) 212 (-110) +280
Cavaliers -8 (-110) 212 (-110) -340
The Cavs are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games hosting a West Coast team
“My hip is better, but I have no rhythm,” Thomas said. Basically, he’s like George H. W. Bush at this point. Therefore, he will come off the bench and play limited minutes as he builds up strength, said Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue. “I’m a scoring guard so I know how to put the ball in the basket,” Thomas said. However, as the New York Times, points out, scoring is not the Cavs’ problem, and IT “has historically been a liability on defense.” The Cavs have allowed 108.7 points per 100 possessions this season, which is tied for the second-worst in the NBA. Cleveland’s offense, the third-most efficient in the league, has picked up the slack, but even so the Cavaliers went 9-5 in December.
The Cavs have lost their last three games straight, but have won their last 12 at home. Additionally, the Cavaliers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games hosting a West Coast opponent, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games playing on two days’ rest, 5-22-1 ATS in their last 28 home games, and 0-5 against the NBA games betting odds spread in their last five overall.
The total has gone under in 20 of the Blazers’ last 27 games
Portland point guard Damian Lillard, who is averaging 25.2 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game this season, has missed five consecutive games, including Monday’s 124-120 overtime win over the Bulls, since injuring his hamstring on December 20th. It has been reported, though, that he plans to play against the Cavs.
Lillard said he could go tonight at Chicago but decided to sit out because he doesn’t want to initiate his healing hamstring in a back-to-back scenario. Says “I plan to play” Tuesday in Cleveland.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 2, 2018
Shooting guard CJ McCollum has, in Lillard’s absence, scored more than 30 points in two of the last three games and is averaging 21 points per game this season.
The total has gone under in 20 of Portland’s last 27 games, as well as in five of their last seven meetings with the Cavs. Moreover, the Trailblazers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games playing on no days’ rest, 8-1 ATS in their last nine on the road, and 8-3 against the NBA games betting odds spread in their last 11 games overall.