Cavaliers vs 76ers Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 1/24/25

CLEVELAND @ PHILADELPHIA (CLE -9.5, 228.5)

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Cavaliers vs 76ers Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 1/24/25

CAVALIERS @ 76ERS 1/24/25

It’s not really a losing streak, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are just 3-3 SU in their last six games. That’s a slump for the NBA’s best team, which is 36-7 overall thus far this season. They will take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, a team that is experiencing a real losing streak. Aiming to end their seven-game losing streak, the 76ers eagerly await the arrival of Donovan Mitchell and his Cleveland Cavaliers for tonight’s showdown.

The Cavs went on a 12-game run just before their three losses in their last six games. Looking back at their 109-108 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, the Cavaliers are determined to bounce back. Despite fighting back with a 19-0 run to claim a six-point lead with around four minutes to play, the Cavaliers had to swallow a bitter pill when Darius Garland missed the chance to secure a win with just 2.1 seconds on the clock.

The Cavs played without Evan Mobley for the third straight game. Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised his team’s ability to keep fighting even when things weren’t going their way. Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points on a 7-of-21 shooting and he did not attribute the loss to Garland. Mitchell leads the Cavs with 26 points per game. He also shoots 87.3 percent from the free-throw line.

On the other side of the court, the Sixers too have been plagued with their share of injury troubles. Joel Embiid (foot, knee) remains on the sidelines for Friday's face-off. Embiid has only played in 13 games this season. Despite the former MVP's absence, the Sixers have to resolve their defensive issues if they are going to end this seven-game losing streak.

Their defense was exposed during their current losing run, giving up at least 115 points in six games. The low point came in a brutal 144-109 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. The Nuggets dominated the game and shot a blistering 61.2 percent from the floor. There was little the Sixers could do to stop Nikola Jokic (triple-double) and the Nuggets. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said his team's lack of communication and physicality at the start of the game is what did them in.

For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey led the charge with 28 points while Guerschon Yabusele contributed a crucial 22 points off the bench. The potential return of Embiid coupled with the seven home games in their next eight could prove to be the light at the end of the tunnel that the Sixers need.

Philly is 0-7 SU and 0-9 ATS in its last 7 and 9 games, respectively. Cleveland has now won 15 of its last 18 games. Cleveland is 4-2 SU in the last six games against the Sixer but, interestingly, is just 2-4 ATS in those six games.s.

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COACH RICK FREE PICK:

OVER 228.5

This is the final game of the season series between these two teams. Both previous games went Over the total, but the totals were 218.5 and 221.5. Tonight’s total of 228.5 suggests an even higher scoring game between the two teams. The Cavs have hit the Over in 12 of their last 17 games and the Over is 14-6 in their road games this season. Philly has gone Over the number in 5 of its last and 7 of the last 8 games in this series have all cashed on the Over.