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Cleveland (23-19) at Philadelphia (22-17)
- When: Jan 16 2026, 7:00 PM
- Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- TV: FDSOH
Cleveland vs Philadelphia Preview & Prediction
Spread: Philadelphia -2.5
Moneyline: Philadelphia (-135)
Total: 234.0
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland wasted no time sending a message in the first meeting of this short series, rolling to a dominant road win and controlling the game from the opening tip. The Cavaliers moved the ball effortlessly, played at a fast pace, and punished Philadelphia for every defensive lapse. When this team is sharing the floor and playing downhill, they are tough to slow down.
Donovan Mitchell has been in a groove offensively, especially from deep, and continues to carry the scoring load with confidence. Even with Darius Garland sidelined due to a toe injury, Cleveland showed it can function efficiently by leaning into ball movement and versatile frontcourt play. Evan Mobley’s impact on both ends has been massive, providing rebounding, rim protection, and secondary playmaking.
Cleveland has already proven it can win in this building and has had Philadelphia’s number recently. As an underdog catching points, the Cavaliers are positioned well to stay competitive and steal another road win.
Cavaliers Player Prop Pick: Donovan Mitchell over 25.5 points – Mitchell has been torching defenses from deep and remains Cleveland’s primary scorer. With Garland out, his usage and shot volume should stay elevated again.
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia enters this rematch looking to respond after one of its most disappointing home performances of the season. The Sixers were slow out of the gate, sloppy with the ball, and never found an offensive rhythm. Falling behind early forced them into rushed shots and defensive breakdowns that snowballed quickly.
Joel Embiid put up points but struggled to control the game, especially with turnovers and limited rebounding impact. Tyrese Maxey also had an off night, and the backcourt failed to generate consistent scoring or tempo. Philadelphia has been inconsistent at home this season, and that trend is hard to ignore when laying points.
The Sixers are favored by 2.5 with the total sitting at 234.0, but trusting them to cover after such a poor showing is risky. They need a sharper start and far better execution to flip the result.
76ers Player Prop Pick: Joel Embiid over 29.5 points – Embiid will be aggressive looking to bounce back at home. Philadelphia needs his scoring to control the game, especially after turnovers hurt them last time.
Betting Outlook and Prediction
Philadelphia is listed as a 2.5-point favorite, but Cleveland already showed it has the matchup edge and the confidence to play fast and freely in this building. With the Cavaliers moving the ball well and the Sixers still searching for consistency, the value sits with the road dog again.
The total is high at 233.0, and with both teams capable of scoring in transition, points should be there.
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers win outright and cover the spread.
Final Score: Cavaliers 120, 76ers 116
Lean: Cleveland (+111)
Total: Over 234.0
- NBA Basketball Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
