The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of another loss to the Washington Wizards. Currently, in the NBA standings, the Lakers are 10th in the Western Conference.
With the NBA playoffs quickly approaching, the Lakers can’t afford many more losses. Today, they face the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the best defenses in the NBA (see NBA computer picks). This could spell trouble for the L.A. Lakers.
The Cavaliers are coming off of two big wins, one of which was over the Denver Nuggets. They rank sixth in the Eastern Conference and could use another win to move up.
Led by players such as Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers are playing great basketball. The question is, will their defense be able to stop the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers – let’s tak a look at our NBA SAme Game Parlay and Computer Picks.
Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Lakers have one of the best offenses in the NBA but have only won 30 games this year. As most have been able to point out, their biggest problem is team chemistry.
Another big problem is their defense is one of the worst in the NBA, ranking 27th in points allowed. On average, the Lakers allow 114.03 points per game. Cleveland’s offense will definitely benefit from this today.
The Cavaliers’ defense is what has secured them the 41 wins they’ve been able to put together. Ranked third in the NBA, the Cavaliers’ defense allows just 104.24 points per game.
Today, the main match-up to watch is Lauri Markkanen or Kevin Love against LeBron James. If Love guards James, the Cavaliers should be in good shape since Love is familiar with his style.
Against the Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +5.5
For starters, we want to state that we believe the Lakers will lose this game to the Cavaliers. However, the spread is slightly too large for the Cavaliers to cover. Because of this, we’re going to take the Los Angeles Lakers +5.5.
In the last game against the Cavaliers, the Lakers won the game 113-101. Overall, the Lakers have gone 3-0 against the Cavaliers in the last three games.
The Total: UNDER 224
The under 224 seems like the best bet in this game based on each team’s offense and defense. Although their defense is incredible, the Cavaliers’ offense only averages 104.23 points per game.
This season, the Cavaliers have a record of 30-39-2 against the total. It’s also important to note that in their last three games against Los Angeles, the total has gone under twice.
To Score 15+ Points: Russell Westbrook -225
There are a few players that need to help the Lakers to win this game; one is Russell Westbrook. This season, Westbrook averages 18.0 points per game, but against Cleveland, he averages 19.0.
Look for Westbrook to have a notable night against Darius Garland, a smaller point guard. Westbrook can use his size to get into the paint and score against Garland.
Win Margin: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-10) +175
As we mentioned, the Lakers will likely cover the spread, but we think Cleveland will win the game. Adding this pick to your single-game parlay will boost your winnings with the +175.
Cleveland is the better team, with the stronger defense, and is playing at home. They’ve gone 23-12 this season when playing at home this season.