Lakers vs. Cavaliers Pick
Do the Los Angeles Lakers have a good chance to make it a close game tonight at the Cleveland Cavaliers? Game time is 8PM ET.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Cavaliers are listed as a 9.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total sits at 219 points.
Los Angeles enters with a 10-16 overall record and 12-14 ATS after a 113-109 overtime loss at the Knicks. Cleveland is 20-8 and 10-17-1 ATS following a 123-114 home victory over the Hawks. The Cavaliers went 2-0 straight up and 0-2 ATS in two meetings last season. The over went 2-0.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the way with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in the loss at New York. Kyle Kuzma accounted for 19 points, six boards and two blocked shots. Lonzo Ball added 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. The Lakers were outscored 14-10 in overtime.
Cleveland was paced by LeBron James with 25 points, 17 assists, seven rebounds and two steals in the win over Atlanta. Kyle Korver scored 19 off the bench, connecting on 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Kevin Love had 17 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Jeff Green added 17 points and three boards off the bench. The Cavaliers led 94-77 through three quarters.
The Cavaliers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games playing on one day’s rest. The over is 8-0 in the last eight meetings.
Cleveland has had plenty of straight up success, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is blowing everyone out as evidenced by the 10-17-1 ATS record. Ball’s favorite player growing up was LeBron and this will be an opportunity, along with the rest of the young Lakers, to prove they are an up-and-coming team. Double-digit victories are tough to come by against any NBA team and the Cavs have only won six games by 10 or more points this season. Bet on LA to keep this one close.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES LAKERS +9.5