LeBron James returns home to Cleveland Tuesday night as his Los Angeles Lakers take on the Cavaliers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The contest will be aired on TNT.
These teams played earlier this season, with Cleveland beating the Lakers 114-100 on Nov. 6. That was part of the Cavaliers’ 8-1 start out of the gate.
Donovan Mitchell poured in 33 points, while Darius Garland chipped in with another 24. The win extended their longest win streak since James guided them to a 13-game roll in 2017.
Stay around to see our Lakers vs Cavaliers betting picks. Let’s dive into some NBA team stats after we check out how both teams have been doing on the NBA schedule lately.
Last Game Records
Cavaliers’ Last Game Record
The Cavaliers (15-9) lost on the road to the New York Knicks on Sunday. Despite boasting the best defense in terms of points allowed per game, Cleveland never held the lead in the clash, while Mitchell posted 23 points and Garland added 17.
Evan Mobley, who put up 11 points and ten rebounds, is the only Cavalier to start all 24 games this go-round.
The Cleveland Cavaliers standings are still among the best in the Eastern Conference.
Lakers’ Last Game Record
Los Angeles (10-12) is riding a three-game win streak, which matches its longest of the schedule to this point. They’ve also won eight of their last ten after a lowly 2-10 start.
This surge has included a home win over Portland and road victories against Milwaukee and Washington.
The Lakers beat the Wizards, 130-119, Sunday, with a fantastic showing from Anthony Davis. Davis went 22-of-30, scored 55 points, and pulled down 17 boards, according to NBA player stats.
Over the past two games, Davis has gone for 99 points. He’s averaging 35.3 points in his previous nine games.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell has put up 28.4 points per game this season, the best average on his crew. All-star center Jarrett Allen ranks in the league’s top 10 with 10.8 rebounds per contest. Garland is good for 7.7 assists each time out.
Los Angeles Lakers
Probably due to his recent successes, Davis leads the Lakers with 28.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. LeBron adds 26.1 points per contest, while Russell Westbrook adds 7.7 assists each night.
NBA Injury Report
Knowing who’s in and who’s out for NBA matchups is a big part of making NBA picks, especially when it comes to Lakers picks. It will be important in our Lakers vs Cavaliers betting analysis.
Power forward Dean Wade is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. Allen was out for Sunday’s game with New York with a back injury.
Point guard Ricky Rubio made a step toward a return from his knee injury, taking the floor for some light 3-on-3 work last Thursday.
The Lakers are relatively healthy heading into this one. Forward Cole Swider is the only name on the injury report. He’s out, dealing with a foot injury at the moment.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Cleveland is the favorite in this one, as they’re marked down as -4.5 at -110, while the Lakers are the same to cover.
On the money line, the Cavaliers are -184, and Los Angeles are a +155 underdog. The total is listed at 225.5 points, with the over -110 and the under the same.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction
Today’s Lakers vs Cavaliers betting boils down to Los Angeles’ momentum and the Cavaliers’ stout defense. Really, it hinges upon whether or not Davis continues his scoring tear.
Can he erupt for 40+ for the third outing in a row? Do the Cavaliers find a way to keep him in check?
In this one, go with the latter option when looking at NBA odds. Being at home will certainly help Cleveland, who will be fired up, to continue to show that it can do well without LeBron in town. Go with the Cavaliers to cover the spread.
NBA Pick: Cavaliers -5 (-110)
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