Pelicans vs Cavaliers prediction NBA · Tuesday, December 23
At a glance
The Cleveland Cavaliers (16-14) host the New Orleans Pelicans (8-22) on Tuesday, December 23 at 7:30 PM ET at Rocket Arena in NBA action. Final score: Pelicans 118 – Cavaliers 141. Before tip-off, the Basketlog model gave the Cavaliers a 83% chance to win: prediction correct. This season, the Cavaliers are 10-8 at home and the Pelicans are 2-10 on the road. Over the last 10 games: 4-6 for the Cavaliers and 5-5 for the Pelicans (current streaks: Cavaliers W1, Pelicans W5).
The analysis Model
On paper, the Cavaliers dominate this matchup. The model projects Cavaliers 123 – 111 Pelicans, a margin of about 12.1 points in favor of the Cavaliers and a total around 234 points. Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game. The Cavaliers and the Pelicans played yesterday: fatigue often shows in the fourth quarter.
- The overall strength gap (+3.4 vs -6.4 pts/game) is the main factor.
- The Pelicans need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Cavaliers' offense (120.1 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
- The Cavaliers' defense allows clearly fewer points (116.0 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
NOCLE
Top performers
Pelicans
Zion WilliamsonF · #126pts / game
Derik QueenC · #225assistsDerik QueenC · #227reboundsCavaliers
Donovan MitchellG · #4527pts / game
Craig Porter Jr.G · #98assists
Jarrett AllenC · #319reboundsRecent form
NOCLE
NO
Team comparison
| NO | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| 8-22 | Record | 16-14 |
| 113.8 | Points scored / game | 120.1 |
| 121.4 | Points allowed / game | 116.0 |
| -6.4 | Adjusted margin / game | +3.4 |
| W5 | Current streak | W1 |
| 5-5 | Last 10 games | 4-6 |
| 2-10 road | Home / road record | 10-8 home |
| 21-61 (-9.4) | Last season | 64-18 (+9.5) |
| Yes | Played yesterday | Yes |
Injury report Pelicans
Injury report Cavaliers
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.