Los Angeles Lakers v Cleveland Cavaliers: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers took a gamble in the summer, each making coaching appointments which raised some eyebrows, but their punts seem to be paying off. 

Rookie coach JJ Reddick’s Lakers have enjoyed a strong start to the season, going 18-13 in their opening 31 games, while the Cavs have been the best side in the NBA under Kenny Atkinson, boasting a sensational 28-4 return. 

That makes Wednesday’s clash at the Crypto.com Arena an exciting one, especially with the added intrigue of LeBron James potentially facing the team where it all started for him. 

Los Angeles Lakers v Cleveland Cavaliers prop bets - tips and predictions

Darius Garland over 6.5 assists - 11/10

Given his status as a regular all-star, Donovan Mitchell was expected to be the Cavaliers’ undisputed star man this season and while he is certainly in that conversation, he is under fierce competition for that title from his backcourt partner, Darius Garland. 

The 24-year-old has shone all season but has really found another gear in the past week or so, notching at least 23 points in each of his last four games while being outrageously efficient, knocking down 63.3 percent of his shots in that run. 

However, it is not only on the scoring front he has impressed, with his ability as a playmaker also improving with every passing game. Garland’s last three games have seen him put up assist figures of 8, 7 and 8, making his line of 6.5 look extremely achievable against the Lakers. 

Los Angeles have plenty of stars but they arguably lack the defensive pieces to cope with Garland, Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen simultaneously, suggesting the Cavs point guard should have at least one of his teammates open on a regular basis. 

Garland provided a stunning 10 assists in the pair’s October meeting while he has also registered double figures in that statistic on three other occasions against the Lakers. 

Evan Mobley over 17.5 points - 20/21

As previously mentioned, the Lakers lack the defensive options to cope with the league’s second-best offence - the Cavs average 122.4 points per game, just one less than the Memphis Grizzlies - and that is without considering the hosts’ potential absentees. 

James is a doubt through illness and his fellow star, Anthony Davis, is also questionable, leaving the Lakers light in defensive options to cope with big men, especially as Christian Wood is also sidelined. 

Even if James and Davis do play, they may not be at full tilt and the far younger Cavs could exploit any potential weakness with a barrage of clever attacking play, potentially resulting in a big night for Mobley. 

The forward has been an excellent defender ever since his NBA debut in 2021 but this season he has really improved on offence. Mobley has been in particularly good form of late, averaging 19.8 points in his last nine matches. 

He had a poor night against the Warriors on Tuesday, managing just seven points, but that was likely a one-off and Mobley, who top-scored with 25 for the Cavs in the October head-to-head, can bounce back to form against a potentially depleted Lakers. 

Los Angeles Lakers v Cleveland Cavaliers Money line, spread, over/under

	Money Line	Spread	Over/Under
LA Lakers	29/20	+4.0 – 20/21	Under 230.5 – 10/11
CLE Cavaliers	10/17	-4.0 – 20/23	Over 230.5 - 10/11

Cleveland Cavaliers –4.0 - 20/23

Although Reddick has made a strong start in his debut season as a coach, it would take a bold punter to back against the Cavaliers in their current vein of form. 

The Cavs are on a seven-match winning streak, have lost just one of their last 12 games and are 11-3 on the road this season, making them worthy favourites for this clash. 

Perhaps most impressive has been how convincingly they are winning games. Cleveland’s last 10 wins have all come by a margin greater than five points, with the Warriors, Nuggets, Bucks and 76ers all amongst the sides to have been swept aside in that run. 

The Cavs are coming off the back of an 18-point victory over the Warriors and the Lakers, who were beaten 134-110 in the October meeting, look set for a difficult night at the Crypto.com Arena. 

Home advantage may not be enough to see them remain competitive, given Los Angeles have lost four of their last seven matches in front of their own fans, and another convincing Cleveland win is on the cards. 

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.