Predictions, Player Props & Odds for the OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game on January 8th

• Riding a 15-game win streak, the West-leading OKC Thunder visit the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers
• The Cavs have won ten straight and own an 18-1 record at home this season
• Below, see the Thunder vs Cavaliers predictions, player props, and best odds for Jan. 8

One of the most highly anticipated regular-season matchups in recent history takes place on Wednesday night as the Western Conference-leading OKC Thunder (30-5, 13-3 away, 23-11-2 ATS) ride a 15-game win streak into Cleveland to face the NBA-leading Cavaliers (31-4, 18-1 home, 25-10 ATS), who are on a ten-game win streak of their own. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 pm ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and the Cavs are listed as 2.5-point favorites.

OKC Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers Predictions

• Thunder moneyline (+120) at BetMGM 
• Under 220.5 (+205) at FanDuel
• Donovan Mitchell under 22.5 points (-117) at Caesars  Odds as of Jan. 8. See SBD’s list of the top NBA betting apps and get a sign-up bonus to wager on Wednesday night’s games. 

This theory hasn’t been working out too well for me this season, but I don’t completely buy the Cavaliers as a true NBA title threat, one that’s going to blaze through the regular season as the top team in the league. The Cavs currently have a Net Rating of +11.5, second-best in the NBA to OKC (+12.1).

That represents a massive improvement compared to last year, when Cleveland finished 12th in the league at just +2.5.

Some of that jump makes sense based on better injury luck. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley – the team’s three leading scorers – all missed at least 25 games each last year. This season, they’ve missed five games combined.

But even with better health factored in, I don’t think Cleveland’s quantum leap in efficiency is entirely sustainable. Their Effective Field-Goal Percentage of 59.5% is not just 3.8% better than it was last year, it’s also 2.2% better than any other team in the league.

If there is an apt time for the regression I’ve been expecting to actually begin to happen, it’s against the league’s best defense. OKC sits #1 in D-Rating by a wide margin. At 102.7, the gap between OKC and #2 Orlando (106.3) is bigger than the gap between Orlando and #8 Cleveland (109.8).

OKC has also made big strides this year compared to last, improving from +7.3 in Net Rating to +12.1. But OKC is also a younger team with more room to develop. During their current 15-game win streak, 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.1 APG) has become the odds-on favorite in the NBA MVP odds, making the jump many pundits expected.

The three plays I’m backing tonight are the OKC moneyline at +120, under the alt-total of 220.5 at long +205 odds, and Donovan Mitchell under 22.5 points. I have listed out those three plays separately, but if you want to back the general theory in a same-game parlay, you can craft the following Thunder/Cavaliers SGP at FanDuel: (1) OKC vs CLE SGP: OKC moneyline + (2) under 230.5 + (3) Mitchell under 22.5 (+425).

OKC vs CLE Player Props

NBA player props from DraftKings on Jan. 8. 

Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s only 0.3 PPG behind Giannis Antetokounmpo for the NBA scoring lead, has the highest point total of the night at a massive 32.5. SGA has hit at least 33 points in four of his last five games. Donovan Mitchell (23.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG) leads the Cavs players at 22.5. Mitchell has been held under 20 points in two straight, but he also played fewer than 30 minutes in both as his Cavs cruised to a pair of double-digit wins over the Mavericks (134-122 away) and Hornets (115-105 home).

OKC big man Isaiah Hartenstein (12.0 PPG, 12.2 RPG) has the highest rebound total of the night at 11.5, closely followed by Cleveland center Jarrett Allen (13.7 2.4 7.7 10.1) at 10.5 O/U.

Best Thunder vs Cavaliers Odds

The Cavaliers are 2.5-point home chalk at most sportsbooks in Wednesday’s NBA odds. The lone exception at the moment is Caesars, which has lowered the spread to Cleveland -2.0.

On the moneyline, Caesars also has the best price on the Cavaliers winning straight-up (-135) while BetMGM has the longest odds on an OKC win (+120).

There is a one-point range in the game total. FanDuel has the best under option at U 230.5 (-112) while BetMGM has the best over option at 229.5 (-115).

The Thunder are getting the majority of moneyline handle in Wednesday’s NBA public betting splits, sitting at 58%. But that’s come on just 23% of the moneyline tickets, indicating big bets are on OKC to win straight-up.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8th in what is expected to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. As the game approaches, fans and bettors alike are eagerly anticipating the outcome and looking to make predictions on the player props and odds for this highly anticipated game.

The Thunder, led by star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have been performing well this season with a record of 17-18. They have shown flashes of brilliance on both ends of the court and will be looking to continue their winning ways against the struggling Cavaliers.

On the other hand, the Cavaliers have had a tough season so far with a record of 12-22. Despite their struggles, they have some talented players in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland who can make an impact on the game.

When it comes to player props, bettors should keep an eye on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder. He has been a consistent scorer for the team this season and is likely to put up big numbers in this game. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland will also be key players to watch for the Cavaliers, as they will need to step up their game in order to compete with the Thunder.

In terms of odds, the Thunder are likely to be favored in this matchup given their superior record and recent form. However, the Cavaliers have shown that they can be a tough team to beat on any given night, so bettors should not count them out completely.

Overall, this game is shaping up to be an exciting showdown between two talented teams. Fans and bettors alike will be eagerly watching to see how it all unfolds and making their predictions on the player props and odds for this highly anticipated matchup.