After gutting out a victory in their first game without injured star Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets try for back-to-back wins in the middle of a seven-game road trip when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight.
Cleveland is starting to look like last season’s dominant version and is a massive 13-point favorite over the depleted Nuggets.
However, my Nuggets vs Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks still have Denver keeping it close on Friday, January 2.
Nuggets vs Cavaliers prediction
Nuggets vs Cavaliers best bet: Nuggets +13.5 (-110)
It’s all about the next man up mentality for the Denver Nuggets.
Against Toronto, that was reserve Peyton Watson, who scored a team-best 24 points, to help Jamal Murray, who had 21 points, seven boards, and six assists, land the plane.
Already without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and Cam Johnson (knee), the Nuggets won’t have Nikola Jokic or his backup Jonas Valanciunas against the Cleveland Cavaliers, after JV strained his calf against Toronto.
Cleveland is coming off a 129-113 whipping of Phoenix, and the team has picked up wins in four of the last six.
The offense has been singing in those victories, with the Cavs averaging 130.5 points and winning all four by double-digits.
The last two wins have added significance, as Cleveland has struggled against teams with winning records, and victories over San Antonio and Phoenix bring that record to 6-11.
Still, even with all of the Nuggets' injuries, Murray is performing at an All-Star level and just might be playing well enough to carry whatever squad is on the floor to be competitive.
Denver is the highest-scoring team in the NBA and has the top field-goal and 3-point shooting numbers in the league.
Couple that with Cleveland’s plus 3.2-point differential at home, and that 13 points feels like a generous cushion, even for injury-riddled Denver.
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Nuggets vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Donovan Mitchell is coming off a 34-point night against the Suns, but it’s just the second time in his last five that he’s touched 30 points.
Jarrett Allen’s board work got a little less challenging with news of both Jokic and Valanciunas being out, giving him plenty of room to control the glass. He’s already held his own pretty well against Joker & Co. since joining Cleveland, pulling down at least 10 boards in six of nine games against Denver.
Nuggets vs Cavaliers SGP
- Nuggets +13.5
- Donovan Mitchell Under 29.5 points
- Jarrett Allen Over 8.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Triples is Best
Murray shot a blistering 50.5% from 3-point range in December.
Evan Mobley has connected on at least one triple four times in the last five games against Denver, going 10-for-17.
Nuggets vs Cavaliers SGP
- Nuggets +13.5
- Donovan Mitchell Under 29.5 points
- Jarrett Allen Over 8.5 rebounds
- Jamal Murray Over 2.5 threes
- Evan Mobley Over 0.5 threes
Nuggets vs Cavaliers odds
- Spread: Nuggets +13.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -13.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Nuggets +550 | Cavaliers -800
- Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)
Nuggets vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
Six of the last seven games between these teams have gone Over the total. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Nuggets vs Cavaliers
| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Friday, January 2, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime |
Nuggets vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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