Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland-cavaliers Picks and Predictions January 3rd 2025

Cavs Take on Mavs: Can Cleveland Keep Their Hot Streak Alive?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on fire right now, and they’re looking to keep it that way as they wrap up their road trip against the Dallas Mavericks this Friday. With a perfect record against Western Conference teams this season, the Cavs have been dominating. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are trying to bounce back from a tough stretch and major injury issues. Let’s break it all down

Cavs Are Owning the West

The Cavaliers have been absolutely unstoppable against Western Conference teams, going 9-0 this season. Not only are they winning, but they’re doing it in style, beating opponents by an average of over 16 points. Their latest W, a 122-100 smackdown of the Los Angeles Lakers, was more proof of how locked in they are.

It’s clear that this team isn’t just chasing regular-season wins—they’re aiming for something bigger.

Cleveland’s Stars Are Stepping Up

If you’ve been following the Cavs, you know their success is coming from all corners of the roster. Let’s talk about the standouts:

• Jarrett Allen: The big man was on another level against the Lakers, dropping 27 points, grabbing 14 boards, and earning the title of “star of the game” from his coach.
• Donovan Mitchell: The team’s go-to scorer did his thing again, putting up 26 points like it was nothing.

• Evan Mobley: On top of his 20 points and six rebounds, Mobley was named the Cavs’ first-ever NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month. Pretty awesome, right?
• Darius Garland: Garland showed off his playmaking skills, notching 14 assists to go along with 14 points.
• Max Strus: Back after an injury kept him out for 27 games, Strus looked sharp with 15 points, including four threes.

This team is firing on all cylinders, and it shows.

Mavs Are Struggling Without Luka

Things haven’t been so smooth for the Mavericks. They’ve lost three straight games on their road trip, and missing Luka Doncic has been a huge blow. The five-time All-Star is out for at least a month with a calf injury, leaving Dallas to figure things out without him.

In their latest game, a 110-99 loss to the Houston Rockets, turnovers were a massive issue. The Mavs gave the ball away 20 times, and Klay Thompson, who’s usually solid, had five of them.

“That’s on me,” Thompson admitted. “I can’t be that sloppy with the ball, but I’ll fix it for the next game.”

Kyrie Irving chipped in 16 points, and Quentin Grimes added a spark off the bench with 17. Unfortunately, injuries keep piling up. P.J. Washington went down with a knee sprain in the Rockets game, and Naji Marshall is finishing up a suspension, leaving the Mavericks short-handed.

What to Watch For

This game has a lot of interesting angles. Here’s what you should keep an eye on:

1. Cavs’ Defense: With Mobley anchoring the defense, the Cavs have been a nightmare for opposing offenses. Can they shut down Dallas too?
2. Kyrie’s Role: With Luka out, Kyrie needs to step up in a big way. Can he lead the team against his former squad?
3. Battle in the Paint: Jarrett Allen has been unstoppable recently. Will the Mavericks have any answer for him inside?
4. Turnover Troubles: Dallas has to clean up their mistakes if they want a shot at winning.

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The Stakes

For the Cavaliers, this is a chance to finish their road trip undefeated and show they’re serious contenders in the East. For the Mavericks, it’s about proving they can compete even with key players missing.

Final Take

This matchup has all the makings of a must-watch game. The Cavaliers are the clear favorites, but if the Mavericks can rally around their remaining stars and cut down on turnovers, they might just make it interesting.

Will the Cavs keep their streak alive, or can the Mavs pull off an upset? Tune in Friday to find out!