Nets vs Cavaliers Picks and Predictions: KD's Return Will Fuel Repeat Victory Over Cavs

The development of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been one of the better stories of this young NBA season. But the Cavs have been derailed by injuries and now must deal with Kevin Durant and the visiting Brooklyn Nets. 

The Nets come into this game as winners of 10 of their last 12 which includes a 109-99 win against this same Cavaliers team last Wednesday. Can Brooklyn come through for its backers again or will Cleveland and its stout defense cover as home underdogs?

Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for Nets vs. Cavaliers on November 22.

Nets vs Cavaliers odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

This line has opened with the Cavaliers as 7.5-point home dogs but with Kevin Durant’s status a bit of a question mark heading into this game, Cleveland has seen the early money, moving the line to +6. The total opened at 207.5 and has been bet up to 209. Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Nets vs Cavaliers predictions

• Prediction: Nets -6 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 209 (-110)
• Best bet: James Harden to record a double-double - YES (-135)

Predictions made on 11/22/2021 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Nets vs Cavaliers game info

• Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
• Date: Monday, November 22, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBATV

Nets vs Cavaliers betting preview

Injuries

Nets: Joe Harris SG (Out), Bruce Brown SF (Out), Nicolas Claxton C (Out).
Cavaliers: Collin Sexton PG (Out), Evan Mobley C (Out), Cedi Osman SF (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 5-1 in the Nets' last six games overall and 4-0 in the Cavaliers' last four games with a winning SU record. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Cavaliers.

Nets vs Cavaliers picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Cavaliers bought into J.B. Bickerstaff’s defensive mentality and they became one of the best teams in the NBA at that end of the floor and used that to get out o a 7-4 start this season. But then they lost starting point guard Collin Sexton to a knee injury for the season, and then No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley went down with an elbow injury and won’t be back for at least a few more weeks.

Without Sexton and Mobley, the Cavaliers' offense has really stalled, and it wasn’t exactly humming beforehand. Over the last four games, Cleveland has averaged just 92.8 points per game and is shooting 39.6 percent from the field. That’s dead last in the NBA over that span. 

Now, the shorthanded Cavaliers, host the shorthanded Nets, but unlike Cleveland, Brooklyn should be getting a big boost with the return of Kevin Durant. 

Durant sat out the Nets' last game with a shoulder injury, but it sounds like the former MVP is back and is having another fantastic season. Durant is averaging 28.6 points on 56.7 percent shooting with 7.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

With Durant back, any team with him and James Harden is going to be tough to beat. Particularly when they rank ninth in defensive rating this season. 

The Cavaliers haven’t covered in four straight games as they are still trying to figure out an offense that is missing some key pieces. Lay the points with the Nets with KD back in the fold.

Prediction: Nets -6 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

When it comes to the total, the early money has been on the Over and with a number this low, it’s hard to disagree. Yes, the Cavaliers are having trouble scoring, and play solid defense (they rank sixth in defensive rating and third in scoring defense) but dealing with a Kevin Durant-James Harden-led team is a problem for anyone. Let alone a team missing some key players.

The Nets went through a mini two-game lull against two good defenses in these Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Excluding those two games, the Nets have averaged 113.2 points per game over their last nine games. 

And while the Cavaliers are a solid defensive team, they rank a middle-of-the-pack 12th when it comes to opponent 3-point shooting percentage and now will have to try and slow down the top shooting team in the NBA. This game should sneak Over the total thanks to the Nets, but get on it quick before the number gets much higher.

Prediction: Over 209 (-110)

Best bet

James Harden hasn’t been filling up the bucket like he was in his Houston years but he has still been incredibly effective, and he has been a double-double machine lately. The Nets’ guard has recorded a double-double nine times in his last 11 games, including in last week’s matchup against the Cavs.

But what makes the odds on him recording another double-double tonight so appealing is that he can get there in a multitude of ways. Harden has recorded 10 or more rebounds six times over that stretch and 10 or more assists six times over that stretch (with a couple of triple-doubles in there of course).

It just means that Harden is taking what the defense gives him and is able to adapt his game on the fly depending on how an opponent is guarding him. He looks like a good bet to record another double-double tonight.

Pick: James Harden to record a double-double - YES (-135)

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