NBA Predictions: New Orleans Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

New Orleans Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, 2/20/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Cleveland -2.5
Current Betting Line: Cleveland -3
Opening Total: 196
Current Total: 196.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

College Football Sportsbook — The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t enjoyed much success as home favorites of three points or less this year

New Orleans suffered a 96-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night, while going OVER the total for the first time in four contests. “That’s the best thing about the NBA,” commented Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez. “We have another one tomorrow.” The Hornets are 10-19 overall on the road this season, including a winning 7-5 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. New Orleans is 2-0 SUATS as road underdogs of three points or less this season, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA betting picks Wednesday night.

The Hornets have won two road contests in a row against the Cavaliers, including an 89-84 victory as five-point underdogs on Feb. 22 last year. New Orleans had averaged 101.0 points over its previous four games before last night’s defeat, as it hit 29 of 62 shots from beyond the arc in that span. The team will likely be without the services of guard Eric Gordon, who has averaged 22.0 points in five career games versus the Cavaliers.

Cleveland will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak, which includes a 96-95 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs as 8.5-point home underdogs a week ago, while going UNDER the total in each contest during that span. The Cavaliers are averaging 107.7 points per game over their last six affairs, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page in terms of the betting total. The squad is finishing up a seven-game homestand with this matchup. Cleveland is 3-13 ATS as home favorites of three points or less the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 10-6 in that situation.

The Cavaliers’ reserves are averaging 43.1 points over the last seven games, while they are led by point guard Kyrie Irving on the offensive end, scoring 23.5 points and dishing out 5.5 assists per game. Over its last 10 home games, Cleveland is averaging 104.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Irving is also averaging an NBA-high 4.6 points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter during the 2012-13 season.