Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Predictions

Allen’s status matters against Embiid

Philadelphia is a 3.5-point home favorite and -148 on the moneyline, while Cleveland is +124. The 76ers are 1-0 after a 106-100 win at New York on October 20. The Cavaliers are playing their season opener.

NBA Official lists Cleveland center Jarrett Allen as questionable with right patellar tendinopathy. His absence would leave the Cavaliers without a projected starter against a Philadelphia lineup expected to include Joel Embiid. Cleveland’s Khalifa Diop and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are out.

Hoops Nightly, a game-day basketball publication, projects Cleveland to start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Peyton Watson and Allen. It projects Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, LeBron James and Embiid for Philadelphia, but notes that starters are usually confirmed about 30 minutes before tip-off.

Prediction and betting view

Philadelphia is the likelier winner at home, but the projected lineups aren’t confirmed and Cleveland has no regular-season results to evaluate. Those limits make the 76ers’ -148 moneyline and 3.5-point spread difficult to justify. Pass before tip-off.