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Cavaliers vs. Rockets prediction: Houston to win, Kevin Durant projected for big game in Saturday's NBA matchup [12/27/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Cleveland Cavaliers vs Houston Rockets predictions for NBA Saturday.
The Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet in NBA action at Toyota Center on Saturday, with tipoff at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Rockets as the most likely winner of the Cavaliers vs. Rockets game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Rockets lineup will feature players like Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith, while the Cavaliers will rely on Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and De'Andre Hunter.
This article offers further insights into Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Cavs vs. Rockets prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NBA game between the Cavaliers and Rockets 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Rockets a 59% chance of defeating the Cavaliers. Our predicted final score has the Rockets winning 116-114.
According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and the Cavaliers and Rockets each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 231.5-point over/under has a 51% chance of staying under.
Cavaliers vs. Rockets odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Cavaliers | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +2.5 (-110) | -2.5 (-105) |
| Moneyline | +120 | -135 |
| Total | o231.5 (-115) | u231.5 (-105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Cavaliers vs. Rockets picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Rockets -2.5 | -105 |
| Moneyline | Rockets | -135 |
| Total | Under 231.5 | -105 |
According to our best NBA bets for Saturday, the top play to make on this game is Rockets to win.
Cavaliers vs. Rockets player props
NBA player props are an exciting way to wager on the Cavaliers vs. Rockets matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Toyota Center.
Donovan Mitchell is expected to lead the Cavaliers with 27 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, while Kevin Durant is projected to have 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Rockets.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Cavaliers prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Cavaliers are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Mitchell | 27 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 46 |
| Darius Garland | 19 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 24 |
| Evan Mobley | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 31 |
| Jarrett Allen | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 27 |
Rockets prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Rockets:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | 28 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 48 |
| Amen Thompson | 19 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 42 |
| Jabari Smith | 17 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| Tari Eason | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 28 |
| Reed Sheppard | 13 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 27 |
Cavs vs. Rockets game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's game between the Rockets and Cavaliers at Toyota Center is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Houston Rockets
- Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Toyota Center
Conclusion
We predict the Rockets, with a 59% win probability, will likely beat the Cavaliers on Saturday, with Kevin Durant projected for a game-high 48 fantasy points.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Cavaliers vs. Rockets insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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