Nuggets vs. Cavaliers prediction: Cleveland to win, Donovan Mitchell projected for big game in Friday's NBA matchup [1/2/2026]

NBA action continues on Friday at 7:30 PM ET as the Denver Nuggets lock horns with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.

Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Cavaliers as the most likely winner of the Nuggets vs. Cavaliers game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Cavaliers lineup will feature players like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, while the Nuggets will be led by Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway.

This article offers a closer look at Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Nuggets vs. Cavs prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Friday's NBA matchup between the Nuggets and Cavaliers 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Cavaliers an 84% chance of beating the Nuggets. Our predicted final score has the Cavaliers winning 125-113.

According to our model, the Nuggets (+13.5) have a 57% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 240.5 points has a 54% chance of staying under.

Nuggets vs. Cavaliers odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Nuggets vs. Cavaliers 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:

According to our best NBA bets for Friday, the top play to make on this game is Nuggets +13.5 at the spread.

Nuggets vs. Cavaliers player props

NBA prop bets are an exciting way to wager on the Nuggets vs. Cavaliers game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Rocket Arena.

Jamal Murray is expected to lead the Nuggets with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, while Donovan Mitchell is projected to have 28 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists for the Cavaliers.

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.

Nuggets prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Nuggets are:

Cavaliers prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Cavaliers:

Nuggets vs. Cavs game-day updates and essential details

Friday's matchup between the Cavaliers and Nuggets at Rocket Arena is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM ET.

• Who: Denver Nuggets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
• Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Venue: Rocket Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Cavaliers, with an 84% win probability, will likely beat the Nuggets on Friday, with Donovan Mitchell projected for a game-high 48 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Nuggets vs. Cavaliers insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced 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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