There are nine games on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day NBA slate, one of the most intriguing being an interconference battle between the Cleveland Cavaliers (24-19) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (35-8). The game tips at 2:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC and Peacock.
Below, we’ll break down our Thunder vs. Cavaliers prediction spread, and total for the MLK Day tilt. Make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spread, and total.
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Thunder vs. Cavaliers Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
After compiling an East-best 64-18 record a season ago, the Cavaliers have had an up-and-down year, due in part to nasty case of the injury bug. For their part, Cleveland attempts to turn the corner after consecutive wins against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Meanwhile, still dominant after winning the 2024-25 NBA title, the Thunder are the only NBA team that has single-digit losses (8). Oklahoma City was on a five-game winning streak before falling 122-120 to the Miami Heat on Saturday.
Thunder vs. Cavaliers Over/Under, Spread
The Thunder enter Monday’s game as 6.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.38x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Cavaliers are home underdogs with a 2.70x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -6.5
- Over/Under: 234.5
- Game Winner Payout: Thunder 1.38x | Cavaliers 2.70x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Thunder vs. Cavaliers Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Thunder vs. Cavaliers injury report for Monday, via NBA.com.
Thunder Injury Report
- C Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) – OUT
- G Jalen Williams (hamstring) – OUT
Cavaliers Injury Report
- G Darius Garland (toe) – OUT
- G Max Strus (foot) – OUT
- G Sam Merrill (hand) – OUT
Thunder vs. Cavaliers Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Thunder vs. Cavaliers prediction on Monday, January 19.
- The Thunder are just 9-11 against the spread as a road favorite this season, ranking 11th in the NBA.
- Meanwhile, the Cavaliers possess a 0-1 record against the spread as a home underdog on the year in a very small sample size.
- Oklahoma City’s offense ranks second in per-game scoring (121.1), while Cleveland ranks fourth with 120.0 PPG.
- From a defensive standpoint, the Thunder allow the fewest fast-break points per game (11.4). On the other hand, the Cavaliers give up 16.6 fast break points per contest, seventh-most in the league.
- Oklahoma City holds the NBA’s top defensive rating (105.4), while Cleveland ranks 15th in that department with at 114.3.
- The Thunder take exceptional care of the basketball, averaging the second-fewest turnovers (11.7) in the Association.
Thunder vs. Cavaliers Picks for PrizePicks Today: Monday, January 19
Here are three top Thunder vs. Cavaliers picks to target for Monday, January 19 on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cavaliers SF Jaylon Tyson, and Thunder C Chet Holmgren.
Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Cavaliers Projection: 31.5 Pts
- Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.6 points per game over his last five games. During the month of January, the reigning NBA MVP posted 30.5 points per contest.
- The Thunder star averages 33.3 true shot attempts per 100 possessions, per databallr, ranking him in the 100th percentile.
- SGA shoots 59.7% on 2-point field goal attempts this season. He has also scored more points (1,304) than any other NBA player.
- The former first-round pick averages 28.3 points per contest vs. the Cavaliers in 13 career games.
Cavaliers SF Jaylon Tyson vs. Thunder Projection: 18.5 Pts+Rebs
- Tyson has averaged 22.0 points and rebounds per game in his last five games.
- According to databallr, the California product finishes 10.8 of his true shot attempts per 100 possessions, ranking him in the 96th percentile.
- The Cavaliers forward pulls down 25.5% of his contested rebound opportunities this season, according to NBA.com.
- Per Add More Funds, Tyson tallies 22.2 points per 100 possessions.
Thunder C Chet Holmgren vs. Cavaliers Projection: 28.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- Holmgren has registered 27.4 points, rebounds, and assists across his last five games.
- The former Gonzaga star tallied at least 10 rebounds in five of his last eight.
- The slender big currently averages a career-high 8.5 rebounds per game.
- The Thunder star shoots 36.8% from beyond the arc, the lowest clip of his NBA career.
- Holmgren logs 22.3 true shot attempts per 100 possessions, per databallr, ranking him in the 86th percentile.
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Make Thunder vs. Cavaliers Picks on PrizePicks
Thunder vs. Cavaliers picks are one of many ways basketball fans can get in on the NBA action on MLK Day.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.
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