NBA Odds: Cavaliers Visit Millsap, Nuggets

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked like they had things figured out at the trade deadline. But the remodeled Cavs have gone 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS since the All-Star break, and they’ve got a tough road game coming up this Wednesday (10:30 PM ET, ESPN) against the Denver Nuggets, who have just welcomed arguably their most important player back into the lineup.


The Nuggets (35-28 SU, 29-31-3 ATS) already own one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA, playing in the thin air at the Pepsi Center. Now they’ve got PF Paul Millsap in uniform after a three-month absence following surgery on his left wrist. Millsap was Denver’s key offseason acquisition in free agency; the Nuggets have won back-to-back games since he returned to the starting rotation.

That includes Saturday’s 126-117 victory over the Cavaliers (36-26 SU, 19-42-1 ATS) as 5-point road dogs on the NBA betting lines. Cleveland didn’t have nearly the same offensive flow as the Nuggets, serving up 25 assists to Denver’s 35, and while the quality of their bench has improved since the deadline, depth will be an ongoing concern until PF Kevin Love (broken hand) returns from the injured list later this month.

NBA Odds: Millsap, Nuggets Host Reeling Cavaliers

The Denver Nuggets (35-28 SU, 29-31-3 ATS) are ready for their playoff push after welcoming Paul Millsap back from a three-month absence. They’ll host the stumbling Cleveland Cavaliers (36-26 SU, 19-42-1 ATS) this Wednesday at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN.


Denver has won back-to-back games since Millsap returned from his wrist injury, including Saturday’s 126-117 victory over Cleveland (–5 at home). The Cavaliers are 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS since the All-Star break; so far, Larry Nance Jr. is their only trade-deadline acquisition who’s delivered positive results, while George Hill and Rodney Hood both struggle to fit in.