NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers Are NBA’s Only Unbeaten Team

Apologies to the Oklahoma City Thunder. We wrote about their perfect 7-0 start to the season this week, and how they are the first team in NBA history to begin 7-0, with every win coming by double-digits. In their eighth game, a second game this season with the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder lost, 124-122.

Denver used a 40-point third quarter to erase a 16-point deficit, and Nikola Jokić was simply incredible, finishing with 23 points, 20 rebounds, and 16 assists. He is now just the second player to record a 20/20/15 game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. The other player to do it since Chamberlain was Russell Westbook in 2019, who is now a new teammate of Jokić.

Through eight games Jokić is averaging 28.8 points per game (fifth in the NBA), 13.5 rebounds (first in the NBA), and 11.0 assists (first in the NBA). He is paying +500 to win yet another MVP award, which ranks him third behind Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In the loss at Denver, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points.

Cleveland Cavaliers Stand Alone at 9-0

On Monday, the Cleveland Cavaliers tied a franchise record with an 8-0 start, beating the Milwaukee Bucks, 116-114. That was their best start since the 1976-77 season. 

On Wednesday at the New Orleans Pelicans, they set the franchise mark with a ninth win to begin the season. The 131-122 win over the Pelicans was the fourth time in the new season that the Cavs have gone over 130 points scored. Nine games in and they have already matched their 130-plus point game total from a season ago.

This season, Cleveland has a new head coach in Kenny Atkinson, and he brought with him a new offense, which we can safely say is working. They rank first in the NBA in points scored per game, they are third in scoring margin, and they lead the NBA in offensive efficiency, which is average points scored per possession.

Following Wednesday’s win, the Cavs are two games clear of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4.5 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the Central Division.

The Cavs are still well down the odds list for winning the NBA Finals, ranking tied for 10th at +2200. They are, however, now the heavy favorite to win their division, paying -475. You can also bet on the Cavs to win 70 games this season, and that bet pays +3000.

Cavaliers Host Golden State Warriors

Friday will be another test for the new look Cavaliers, as they host the 7-1 Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are third in the NBA in offensive efficiency, third in points scored per game, and they just won at Boston for their fifth-straight win.

The point spread for this game isn’t on the board yet, but when these teams play on Friday, something’s gotta give. Cleveland is 8-1 against the spread this season, only failing to cover in Monday’s win over Milwaukee. Golden State is 7-1 against the spread, with their lone failure to cover coming in their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cleveland has the best record in the NBA against the spread, and Golden State is second in the NBA against the spread.

The best game of the weekend is Friday night in Cleveland.

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