Cleveland Cavaliers Picks
2nd in Central
(52 - 30)
Next Game
DET @ CLE Picks
NBA Picks
DET +4.5 (-115)
The Detroit Pistons are on the ropes, and JB Bickerstaff showed us in Game 5 that when your season is on the line, nobody’s minutes are safe—even if you’re an NBA All-Star. Jalen Duren is a -42 in plus-minus over the last three games, and Bickerstaff benched him for the final 17 minutes of Game 5 in favor of Paul Reed, the Pistons’ third-string center. I love that Bickerstaff is coaching to win rather than trying to cater to his All-Star center. The Cleveland Cavaliers may have won the last three games in the series, but it’s not like they’ve been dominating throughout. They were down nine points with 2:36 remaining in Game 5, and this team still has clear flaws. I think Cleveland is laying too many points on Friday. I make the Pistons closer to 2-point underdogs in this spot, so if you’re going to give me 4.5 points, I’ll gladly hit the button on Detroit.
o106.5 Team Total (-115)
Cleveland's offense has been rolling at home in the postseason, averaging 118 PPG while scoring at least 112 in all six home playoff contests. Their playoff offensive rating in Cleveland is actually higher than their regular season mark. Detroit continues to send them to the line at a high rate, with Cleveland averaging 28.6 free-throw attempts per game in the series, including 38 and 41 in the last two matchups.
James Harden o19.5 Points Scored (-110)
James Harden put up a postseason-high 30 points in Game 5, while chucking up a team-leading 21 field goal attempts and getting to the charity stripe 14 times. Harden has scored Over 19.5 points in two straight games and three of five contests against the Pistons.
Cade Cunningham o27.5 Points Scored (-110)
Cade Cunningham clearly has the clutch gene - he scored 32+ points in all three must-win games during the Conference Quarterfinals against the Magic. The Pistons guard scored 39 points in Game 5, and with the season the line, he'll need a similar performance in Game 6.
Jarrett Allen o1.5 Total Blocks (-130)
Jarrett Allen ranks second in blocks this postseason, logging Over 1.5 blocks in three straight contests and nine of his last 11 outings. Detroit is averaging 86.6 field goal attempts per game in the series – third most among all teams in the Conference Semi-Finals. The Pistons will get their looks, but Allen will be there to shut them down in the paint.
CLE -3.5 (-120)
The Detroit Pistons have to be heading into Rocket Arena completely demoralized after blowing a nine-point lead late in Game 5 and ultimately losing at home in overtime. As a result, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone from down 2-0 in this series to being one win away from the Conference Finals. The Cavaliers rank in the Top 3 in points, 3-pointers, efficiency, offensive rating, and fewest turnovers at home, and they're a perfect 6-0 at Rocket Arena in the playoffs. Evan Mobley’s emergence as a facilitator and his work in containing Jalen Duren have been instrumental in Cleveland’s success, and Donovan Mitchell — who has been much better offensively at home — should bounce back after a relatively quiet Game 5.
James Harden has averaged 6.8 assists in the Eastern Conference semis, handing out 7+ in three of five games, including each of Cleveland’s two games at home. Evan Mobley has dished 5.2 helpers per game in the series against Detroit, and he’s reached 4+ assists in six straight contests. Role players tend to step up at home, and both Sam Merrill and Max Strus have been more efficient from long range at home than on the road this season. Both three-point specialists averaged career-high makes from beyond the arc, and each hit the Over on their respective lines in Game 5.
Cleveland’s 120.4 offensive rating at home is third-best in the playoffs, and its 118 points per game at Rocket Arena ranks second. Cleveland has scored 107 points or more in all six of its home playoff games, and I expect that trend to continue in Game 6. Donovan Mitchell has averaged 30.2 points on 50.8% shooting at home compared to just 22.3 points on 40.2% shooting on the road this postseason. He’s scored 27+ in four of six home games, and he’s reached that mark in three of five games in the Eastern Conference semis.
Consensus Picks
More Consensus
68% picking Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over
Total PicksDET 314, CLE 145
Top User Picks
More Picks'manomanomano551' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
manomanomano551 is #1 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (44-24-0) and +13900 units on the season.
'jetfan4340' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (210.5)
jetfan4340 is #1 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (48-30-1) and +13350 units on the season.
'88FAN' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
88FAN is #2 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (25-14-0) and +12200 units on the season.
'chuluckus' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
chuluckus is #2 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (43-36-0) and +13400 units on the season.
'mrmrsbears' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (209.5)
mrmrsbears is #3 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (8-4-0) and +12450 units on the season.
'merle1858' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
merle1858 is #3 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (40-38-0) and +9700 units on the season.
'Seawep95' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (209.5)
Seawep95 is #4 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (40-28-0) and +9700 units on the season.
'Patzer24' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (210.5)
Patzer24 is #4 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (31-15-0) and +10900 units on the season.
'kermitfrog' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (210.5)
kermitfrog is #5 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (49-31-0) and +10700 units on the season.
'nbahoops' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
nbahoops is #6 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (42-28-0) and +9050 units on the season.
'PMaeson' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (209.5)
PMaeson is #6 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (35-24-0) and +10700 units on the season.
'Nittanymac5800' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Under (209.5)
Nittanymac5800 is #7 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (47-32-1) and +10200 units on the season.
'billdo' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (210.5)
billdo is #7 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (35-31-1) and +8200 units on the season.
'sandhog1' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (209.5)
sandhog1 is #8 on picking games that Cleveland is in with a record of (41-37-1) and +8100 units on the season.
'ThorsHammer' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (210.5)
ThorsHammer is #8 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (17-15-0) and +9250 units on the season.
'tvigilante2020' picks Detroit vs Cleveland to go Over (209.5)
tvigilante2020 is #9 on picking games that Detroit is in with a record of (31-27-0) and +8600 units on the season.