Cavaliers vs. Nets Friday NBA injury report, spread, odds: Evan Mobley will return with East play-in tournament home court at stake

Easily the most important NBA game Friday night is Cleveland at Brooklyn. They are both bound for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament but this could determine which team is the No. 7 seed and thus wouldn't have to leave home for that event. The Cavs will get a huge boost with the return of Rookie of the Year favorite Evan Mobley from injury, but Brooklyn is -8.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Click here for model picks.

While in most games Friday you will see teams resting starters either to keep them healthy for the playoffs or simply to tank for lottery purposes, everyone who is healthy should be on the court here. Cleveland (43-37) is seventh in the East and Brooklyn (42-38) and Atlanta (42-38) are a game back. Long story short: The Cavs and Nets both control their destiny to be the No. 7 seed and host the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament.

I expect Kevin Durant and Co. to win Friday and then if Brooklyn beats a visiting and tanking Indiana team on Sunday (very likely), the No. 7 seed belongs to the Nets. Cleveland could clinch the No. 7 with a win depending on what the Hawks do Friday in Miami. The Cavs will be no worse than the No. 8 with a victory Friday.

The No. 8 seed visits the No. 7 in the play-in tournament and the winner of that is the No. 7 in the playoffs. The loser hosts the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 for the No. 8 spot.

Cleveland likely would have no shot at an upset without the return of Mobley, who is -200 at Caesars to win Rookie of the Year; only Toronto's Scottie Barnes (+160) can catch Mobley and it's probably too late. The 7-foot Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, hasn't played since March 28 due to a sprained ankle.

He leads all rookies in double-doubles with 20, tying him for the fifth-most by a rookie in Cavs history. Mobley is one of three players in the NBA this season overall averaging at least 14 points, eight rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 50 percent shooting from the field, joining Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis. Cleveland's defense has cratered without Mobley and fellow big man Jarrett Allen, who isn't ready to return yet from a broken finger.

Brooklyn is 2-1 vs. Cleveland this season, but the teams haven't played since mid-January. 

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