The Cavs own the best record in the NBA, and the Nets will be without D'Angelo Russell. I expect Cleveland to jump out to an early lead and cruise to another victory on Tuesday night.

Interestingly, Brooklyn beat the Lakers (who were admittedly shorthanded) last night after losing the previous five games upon the return of Cam Thomas to active duty. Thomas missed last night with a hamstring that likely keeps him out again tonight, but Brooklyn learned how to be competitive without him in his long absence with a more deliberate pace employed by Jordi Fernandez that worked again. Tonight it's at Cleveland and the Cavs' 14-game win streak, but the under intrigues even if barely losing last night vs. LA. The under was 13-2 in the preceding 15 games minus Thomas. The Nets are also under 7-3 in second nights of back-to-backs, and scoring only 99 ppg in the three previous meetings vs. the Cavs. Play Nets-Cavs Under.

Are the Nets the better team without top scorer Cam Thomas? Hoops dynamics can be curious sometimes, but situations like this do arise, and results from the past two months suggest that maybe indeed Brooklyn is better off, if not necessarily minus Thomas, but a ball-dominant scorer. After losing the first five games since the return of Thomas, the Nets won without him last night against the Lakers. LA was shorthanded, too (no LeBron and a few others), but it was a marked improvement over recent form for Brooklyn, which is likely minus Thomas (hamstring) again tonight in Cleveland. The Nets had won seven of their previous eleven minus Thomas, and have played the Cavs fairly tough this season, covering two of three. Play Nets.