Cleveland Cavaliers vs Los Angeles Lakers betting tips and predictions for Tuesday’s NBA game on TNT. The stage is set for Lebron’s annual return to Cleveland as the Lakers face off with the Cavaliers for the 2nd and final time this season. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is coming off a tough loss at New York in which they scored just 81 points at Madison Square Garden. That’s a stark contrast to the team that’s 10-1 at home this season, one of the best marks in the entire league. As a team they shot under 35% from the field and a pedestrian 22% from three-point land.
Coming back home where they have a 6-game win streak running at the moment will be a welcome sign for them, but also playing the Lakers who they already beat once earlier this season. Cavs are 4-point favorites entering the game, they are 13-4 SU in 17 games in that scenario this season. The big question coming into tonight’s game will be regarding the health of Jarrett Allen who is questionable with a back injury.
Los Angeles Lakers
If Allen isn’t able to play, then the Lakers have a really solid chance here as that would allow Anthony Davis to dominate down low. AD has been absolutely on fire over his last 10 games averaging 34.2 points and 15.4 rebounds per game whole shooting 63% from the field.
He’s coming off 55 points and 17 rebounds in the Lakers win over Washington, that’s now 99 points scored over his last 2 games. LeBron is finally getting the help he needs at this stage of his career, he averages 29.4 points per game vs Cleveland in 19 games played in his career. He’s beaten them in 17 of those games, however earlier this season the Lakers lost by 14 at home to the Cavs, so revenge will be on their mind entering tonight’s game.
When a player is as hot as Anthony Davis, it’s really hard to bet against him. Especially when his main match-up is having issues with a back injury. I expect Davis to fully take advantage of that, together with a motivated James playing his old team the Lakers should be able to cover here.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Los Angeles Lakers Predictions & Odds
When the Lakers win, they do it in style. Their last 4 victories have seen them score 130, 133, 128 and 143 points, so the Cavaliers will face an uphill battle trying to keep up with the pace of the Lakers here. Cleveland ranks 30th in the NBA averaging just 96.1 possessions per game, while LA is all the way up in 8th place averaging 102.4 per game.
The Cavs do have the best offensive efficiency in the league though, so the Lakers will be tested on that end like they’ve rarely been all season long. I still think we’re in for a high scoring game though, the last 13 of 18 head-to-head meetings have all gone over the total, including the last 7 of 8 played in Cleveland. The 3 most recent meetings have averaged 226.2 points per game, so we just need both teams to reach their averages and we’ll be good here. Back the points.
