The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of a horrible loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in which the team blew a big lead against one of the worst teams in the league. The Lakers are now back at home to host LeBron James’ former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There is a chance that LeBron does not play in this game, though. LeBron has sat out the last three games and is questionable to play on Friday night against the Cavs. However, there does appear to be optimism that he will play.
The Lakers need to start picking up wins this early in the season against teams like the Cavaliers. While it is still too soon to panic about the long-term success of the team, the NBA season is a grind and losses this early in the season to teams like the Thunder and Cavaliers can make an impact in April and May.
Vegas certainly thinks that the Los Angeles Lakers are going to take care of business in this one.
Lakers vs Cavaliers odds, spread, over/under:
According to WynnBET, the Lakers are eight-point favorites at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This makes the Lakers a hefty -330 favorite on the moneyline while the Cavaliers are a +270 underdog. The over/under for the game has been set at 221.5 points.
This is the most points that the Lakers have been favored by all season despite the fact they just lost an ugly game and are 2-3 this season. The Cavaliers are 3-2.
Lakers vs Cavaliers prediction:
Look, I hate to be the guy that picks against the Lakers on a Lakers website but the way the team has been playing I cannot help but take the points. While I do not think the Lakers are going to lose this game against the Cavaliers, the Lakers also don’t feel like a team that should be favored by this many points with how they are playing.
Hopefully, they prove me wrong and finally play to a definitive win but I have to base my prediction on what we have seen from the team, not on my hopes.
I am going with Cavaliers +8 and over 221.5 points. I really like Evan Mobley and some of the scorers that Cleveland has around him. Both teams are bad defensively and both teams can score the rock.
Cleveland covers but the Lakers win. Final score prediction: Lakers 115, Cavaliers 111.
Lakers vs Cavaliers TV channel:
This is not a nationally televised game so Laker fans can watch it on the home broadcast channel, Spectrum SportsNet.
Lakers schedule and upcoming games:
The Lakers have two straight games against the Houston Rockets at home on Sunday and Tuesday before hosting the Thunder on Thursday. The team then flies up to Portland next Saturday to take on the Trail Blazers.
The Lakers return home the following Monday for a long five-game homestand that spans a week.