Clippers vs. Cavaliers prediction, odds, line: 2022 NBA picks, March 14 best bets from model on 78-48 run

The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday evening. The Clippers (36-34) are on the second night of a back-to-back set, leaving an uncertain injury report. The Cavaliers are 20-11 in home games and 38-29 overall this season, though Cleveland has lost five of its last seven games. Caris LeVert (foot), Lauri Markkanen (ankle) and Dean Wade (knee) are listed as questionable for the Cavaliers, with Rajon Rondo (ankle) listed as doubtful. Jarrett Allen (finger) and Collin Sexton (knee) are out for Cleveland.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Cleveland is listed as the 6.5-point home favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 211.5 in the latest Cavaliers vs. Clippers odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Before making any Clippers vs. Cavaliers picks, you need to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 78-48 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Clippers vs. Cavs, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavs vs. Clippers:

• Clippers vs. Cavaliers spread: Cavaliers -6.5
• Clippers vs. Cavaliers over-under: 211.5 points 
• Clippers vs. Cavaliers money line: Cavaliers -260, Clippers +210
• L.A.: The Clippers are 5-6 against the spread on back-to-backs 
• CLE: The Cavaliers are 14-11-1 against the spread in non-conference games

Why the Clippers can cover

The Clippers rank in the top five of the NBA in 3-point accuracy this season, making more than 36 percent of long-range attempts. That offers intriguing upside and variance for L.A. on offense, but the Clippers truly excel on defense. L.A. ranks No. 7 in the NBA in defensive rating, holding opponents to fewer than 1.09 points per possession. The Clippers are No. 2 in the league in free-throw prevention, and opponents are shooting less than 45 percent from the floor and 34 percent from 3-point range. 

Cleveland also struggles on the offensive end of the floor. The Cavaliers fall soundly below the league average in offensive efficiency, scoring 109.9 points per 100 possessions. Cleveland is also below-average in both 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage, and the Cavaliers rank second-worst in the NBA in turnover rate, committing a giveaway on more than 15 percent of offensive possessions.

Why the Cavaliers can cover

The Cavs shine on defense, and the Clippers struggle on offense. Cleveland is No. 4 in the NBA in defensive rating, yielding just 1.07 points per possession. L.A. is No. 26 in the league in offensive rating, and the Clippers are dead-last in the NBA in both free-throw attempts per game and second-chance points per game. The Clippers also rank No. 25 in 2-point accuracy and No. 26 in offensive rebound rate. 

Cleveland is No. 6 in the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed at 44.6 percent, with top-two marks in the league in 2-point accuracy allowed (50.7 percent) and free-throw attempts allowed (18.7 per game). Cleveland is also in the top 10 of the NBA in assist prevention, and the Cavaliers are above-average in points allowed in the paint (45.8 per game). Finally, the Cavaliers prevent damage on the defensive glass, holding opponents to 12.1 second-chance points per game.

How to make Clippers vs. Cavaliers picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, with only one player projected to score 18 points or more. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Cavaliers vs. Clippers pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Clippers vs. Cavaliers? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Clippers vs. Cavaliers spread you need to jump on Monday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.