Mavericks at Cavaliers: Two Teams Searching for Form

Dallas arrives at Rocket Arena at 7-5, ninth in the Western Conference, with a 2-3 mark on the road. The Mavericks are LWWWL over their last five. Cleveland is 6-7 and second in the Central Division. The Cavaliers are 4-2 at home but have stumbled lately, going LWLLW in their last five.

This is the first meeting of the season series, which starts Saturday. Home court is the clearest edge in the facts. Cleveland has been steadier in its own building than Dallas has been away from home.

Chirp's Sim likes the Cavaliers at 59%, with the Mavericks at 41% across 10,000 simulations. The most likely final is Cavaliers 118, Mavericks 115.