PREVIEW: Nets vs Cavs - 21 March

Game predictions, player and team stats, all you need to know before going into tonight's NBA matchup

As the season goes on, we're reaching the end of the regular season as the Nets and the Cavs find each other once again before meeting this Friday one last time before the postseason.

Cleveland and Brooklyn have been neck to neck for most of the season, especially towards the trade deadline where a dip from the Nets performance was noticeable. Both teams have been on an incredible season, finishing in the top 6 seed in the east.

This Cleveland team has been on top of their program since day 1, making their presence felt in the league. The team is young, healthy, and most importantly, they are a team that is thirsty for glory. In the past couple of years, not so many people gave this team the benefit of the doubt, at least not in the near future. Including last season, which saw a young Darius Garland averaging over 21 points and just under 8 assists per game, many people said they still needed time.

Of course we can’t go on without mentioning the addition of Donovan Mitchell, who the Cavs stole in last year’s postseason. Acquiring Mitchel was a turning point for the Cavs, from being a play-in contender to a clear-cut championship team. So far this season, they haven't disappointed, in fact this Cavs team managed to make the top 4 as of today, and aren't too far from either top 3 seeds.

That being said, the Cavs aren't just a back court team, they also make good use of their two main towers; Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. These two players combined make up for almost 3 blocks and 19 rebounds per game, on top of how they perform outside of stats, they are two defensive minded towers that protect Cleveland's rims. Unfortunately, Jarrett Allen is out due to an eye injury, giving Mobley the center position tonight as you should look out for him in tonight's game.

Cavs team stats:

Offensive rating - 115.4
Defensive rating - 109.6
Avg. score - 112.1 ppg

Player Stats:
Donovan Mitchell - 27.4 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg
Darius Garland - 21.9 ppg, 7.8 apg, 1.3 spg
Evan Mobley - 16.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg

The Brooklyn Nets on the other side were expected to make the top 3 seed from the very start of the season. Currently sitting in the 6th seed, the Nets are far from meeting their expectations due to the trade deadline. Coupe days prior to the deadline, Kyrie Irving moved to Dallas to join forces with Luka Doncic to pack up the west. As if that weren't bad enough, the Nets super star, the one who started this era of the Nets in the 2019 post season, Kevin Durant demanded a trade which led him to Phoenix. In return for KD, the nets got Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges, who have been pivotal players since playing for Brooklyn.

Many expected the Nets to fall down in the eastern conference, maybe making a play-in appearance, but so far the team has been on an unexpected run. The team can still fall down, but there is no question that they have the capacity to clinch a playoff contention.

In addition to their new players, Cam Thomas has stepped up as a scorer for the team, dropping 40 point games before and after the trade deadline, giving him more minutes and ball time while on the floor. Let's not forget about Nic Claxton either, the DPOY contender who is averaging 2.5 blocks this season and has been a vital player on the defensive end. Both these players have shown Brooklyn they belong here as you should keep an eye out for them tonight.

Nets team stats:

Offensive rating - 114.2
Defensive rating - 113.5
Avg. score - 113.4

Player stats

Mikal Bridges - 25.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 43.9% 3P
Cam Thomas - 10.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.4 apg
Nic Claxton - 12.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg
 

Bet365 odds:

Nets 2.30 - Cavs 1.67
 

Conclusion: this game will be intense with lots of back and forth. The Nets will be playing at Barclays Center, giving them home court advantage, but here at stast24, we doubt that will change the score of the game.

We predict the game to go towards the Cleveland Cavs' favor as they have more scoring power over the Brooklyn Nets.