Cleveland Cavaliers vs Denver Nuggets | Preview & Predictions

NBA BASKETBALL: FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2010

Cleveland Cavaliers (28-9) at Denver Nuggets (22-13)
10:30 p.m. EST, TV: ESPN

NBA fans get a real treat when these two first-place teams. Cleveland has an 11½-game lead in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division, and Denver has a 1-game lead in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division meet at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

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This is the first meeting between Denver and Cleveland this season.

Cleveland has one four of five games, including a season-high 121 points in a win over the reeling Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Coach Mike Brown has said the absence of forward Jamario Moon will mean a notable decrease in size in the Cavs’ lineup, but feels like Daniel Gibson will be able to pick up the majority of Moon’s minutes and not see much of a dropoff. And they have LeBron James, which never hurts.

Denver has been beset by injuries as of late, with stars Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups both missing time lately, along with sparkplug forward Chris Anderson. Anderson almost definitely won’t play against Cleveland on Friday, and Billups hopes to return, although backup Ty Lawson came into his own in Billups’ absence … until he hurt his left ankle late in Denver’s win over Golden State. This is a team in need of some serious R&R … make no mistake, the Nuggets are hurting.

The odds makers have the Cleveland Cavaliers as a -3.5 point favorite.

Cleveland needs to just do what it’s been doing to win this one, which means let LeBron James run the offense how he sees fit and get the ball to Shaquille O’Neal in spots. If Anthony plays, it usually gives Denver a chance to win, Anthony and Billups means it is more than likely, however with both uncertain for their status in this game, it might be an off night.

Look for Cleveland to take advantage of Denver’s recent injury woes and win by seven points.