Predictions, Odds, and Player Props for Cavaliers vs Thunder Game on January 16th

• The OKC Thunder are 2.5-point favorites vs the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night
• It’s a rematch of the top teams in each conference – the Cavs won the epic first meeting
• Below, see the Cavs vs Thunder odds, player props and predictions for Jan. 16

Just over a week after their first heavyweight tilt, the Cleveland Cavaliers (34-5, 14-3 away) and Oklahoma City Thunder (33-6, 17-2 home) meet for the final time in regular season Thursday. In this potential NBA Finals matchup, both currently sit first in their respective conferences, and are better than six games up on their closest chasers. Action gets underway at 7:30pm ET from Paycom Center in OKC. Cleveland will be set as an underdog for the first time in its last 23 games.

Cavaliers vs Thunder Odds

The Thunder are slight 2.5-point favorites in the NBA odds, with the Cavaliers pegged as as +125 ‘dogs on the moneyline. The game total is sitting at 233.5. 

 Odds as of Jan. 16 at BetMGM. Check out SBD’s BetMGM review.

The Thunder will be shorthanded up front, as big man Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) was injured last game vs Philadelphia and will be re-evaluated in one week. OKC is already without Chet Holmgren (hip).

For Cleveland, guard Ty Jerome (illness) is listed as questionable Thursday, while forward Emoni Bates (knee) has already been ruled out.

CLE vs OKC Player Props

NBA player props as of January 16 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on all the NBA action on Thursday night. 

Not surprising that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the second-leading scorer in the NBA has the highest scoring prop at 32.5 points. One of the contenders in the NBA MVP odds, SGA has hit the 30-point plateau 15 times in his last 21 outings. He went for 31 in the first matchup.

Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Williams share the second-highest scoring number at 21.5, while Darius Garland has the top assist total at 6.5.

With the depleted Thunder frontcourt, the books have set both Cavalier big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, at 10.5 rebounds.

Cavaliers vs Thunder Predictions

Nothing has changed statistically since the last time these teams met in Cleveland on January 8, with the Cavaliers rolling to a 129-122 victory.

Cleveland is the second-highest scoring team in the Association at 122.3 points per game, leading the league in both field goal and 3-point shooting.

The Thunder are still the stingiest, allowing an NBA-low 103.4 points per game, holding teams to the lowest field goal and 3-point shooting splits across the league.

If you’re not including the NBA Cup final loss to the Bucks (as it doesn’t count in the standings), the Cavs are the only team to beat the Thunder over their last 19 games. Since that loss, OKC has laid the wood to the Knicks, Wizards and 76ers, winning all three with an average margin of victory of 27.3 points.

The product of consistency 🤌

Vote Shai 🗳️ https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/0OjpzPu352

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 15, 2025

Cleveland has only two losses since Dec 1, also covering 19 games. Since beating the Thunder, though, it’s been a slight slog. They won by six over the Raptors, before their 12-game win streak was detonated against Indiana. The 108-93 loss was the Cavs’ biggest defeat of the year and lowest scoring output. They did bounce back the next game, though, dumping the Pacers by 10.

Lining up against the Thunder again might be the emotional jolt they need to get back to that level of play before the mega matchup, when they won 10 in a row, all by double figures.

OKC has the best home record in the West, and have won nine straight in their barn, while the Cavs have won and covered six straight on the road.

This should be an OKC win, but injuries are muddling it up. The Thunder are going to need to go small out of necessity, and outscore their size problems, which could lead to a shootout.

They’re equipped, having gone Over the total in four straight. Ditto the Cavs, who have cashed the Over in five of their last seven games.

Cavaliers vs Thunder Picks:

• Over 233.5 (-105)
• Mobley Over 10.5 assists (+105)

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 16th 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 for predictions, odds, and player props to help them make informed decisions.

The Cavaliers are currently sitting in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-19. Led by All-Star guard Darius Garland and big man Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers have shown flashes of brilliance this season and have the potential to make a deep playoff run. On the other hand, the Thunder are in a rebuilding phase with a record of 13-27, but they have some promising young talent in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

In terms of predictions, the Cavaliers are favored to win this game based on their superior record and overall talent level. However, the Thunder have shown that they can compete with anyone on any given night, so this game could go either way. It will likely come down to which team can execute their game plan more effectively and make key plays down the stretch.

As for the odds, the Cavaliers are currently listed as -150 favorites to win the game, while the Thunder are sitting at +130 underdogs. This means that a bet of $150 on the Cavaliers would net a profit of $100, while a bet of $100 on the Thunder would net a profit of $130. The odds reflect the perceived strength of each team and the likelihood of them winning the game.

When it comes to player props, there are several options to consider for this game. Darius Garland is likely to be a focal point for the Cavaliers, so betting on him to score over a certain number of points could be a good bet. On the Thunder side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is their go-to scorer, so betting on him to have a big game could also pay off.

Overall, the Cavaliers vs Thunder game on January 16th promises to be an exciting matchup with plenty of betting opportunities. Whether you’re a fan looking to make the game more interesting or a bettor looking to make some money, there are plenty of predictions, odds, and player props to consider for this game. Stay tuned for what should be a thrilling contest between these two talented teams.