The New Orleans Pelicans (8-22) and Cleveland Cavaliers (16-14) will meet in the NBA on Tuesday night. Tipoff from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on FDSOH.
The Cavaliers are 9-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Cavaliers -9), with the over/under set at 248.5 total points. Cleveland is a -380 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +300 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, December 23.
Pelicans vs Cavaliers Prediction, Picks
- Pelicans vs Cavaliers pick: Cavaliers -9 (-110)
My Cavaliers vs. Pelicans best bet is on Cleveland to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pelicans vs Cavaliers Odds for Tuesday, Dec. 23
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 248.5 -110o / -110u | +300 |
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 248.5 -110o / -110u | -380 |
New Orleans Pelicans vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Preview
The NBA system titled "Bad ATS Teams, Off Another Loss, Good Spot" focuses on teams that have been struggling against the spread but find themselves in favorable bounce-back positions — such as the Cavaliers in tonight's matchup against the Pelicans.
When a team with a poor ATS record suffers another narrow loss against the number, the market often overreacts, discounting them beyond what performance metrics justify, which appears to be the case for the Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, their opponent is typically coming off a cover or solid outing, which inflates public confidence on that side. This setup creates an imbalance where value shifts toward the underperforming team, as oddsmakers shade lines to match public perception.
Over a larger sample, these situations reveal how teams that consistently miss the spread by small margins tend to rebound once expectations fall too low, especially when facing opponents that are slightly overvalued due to recent success.
Overall, the system stands at 488-402-10 (55%) with a 6% ROI across all-time results.
Pelicans vs Cavaliers Best Bet
- Cavaliers -9 (-110)
Spread
My Cavaliers vs Pelicans betting prediction is on Cleveland to cover the spread at -9.5.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing the total tonight.
Cavaliers vs Pelicans Betting Trends
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