Los Angeles Lakers (9-7) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-7)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 11/25/23 – The Los Angeles Lakers (9-7) take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (8-7) on Saturday in an interconference showdown. Both teams have had up and down starts to the season but will look to gain momentum with a win here. Our top premium choices see value on the spread and over/under for this matchup.
The Lakers come into this game struggling on the road with a 2-9 record in their last 11 games away from Crypto.com Arena. However, they have fared well against Cleveland recently, going 5-2 straight up in the last 7 meetings between these teams. LeBron James continues to lead LA, averaging 25.7 points at age 38. But the Lakers have lacked consistency with their supporting cast outside of Anthony Davis.
Cleveland has seen improvement this season behind the stellar play of offseason acquisition Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is averaging 29.2 points per game to lead the Cavs. Cleveland has defended home court well so far, going 4-1 straight up in their last 5 games at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. They’ll need to get continued production from their young core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley if they hope to take down James and the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 11/25/23 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse |
| TV: | |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
LeBron James (SF) vs. Donovan Mitchell (SG)
LeBron James continues to defy age and critics with his sensational play in his 20th NBA season. Despite turning 38 this week, King James is as effective as ever, averaging 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. James’ longevity and consistency will make life difficult on the Cavaliers defense. However, he has struggled with turnovers this year, committing 3.8 per game.
Donovan Mitchell has given Cleveland the dynamic perimeter scorer they’ve badly needed in recent years. After coming over from Utah in the offseason, Mitchell leads the surging Cavaliers in scoring at 29.2 points per contest. His speed and quickness with the ball constantly puts pressure on defenses. Mitchell will need to minimize turnovers, as his 2.6 per game is currently the highest mark of his career.
This marquee matchup between the former Cleveland star LeBron and current Cavs leader Donovan Mitchell should excite fans. Both thrive with the ball in their hands and can single-handedly take over games. Whichever player is able to dictate pace and draw more fouls stands the best chance of leading their team to victory.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -175, Total Odds: 222.5
The Cavaliers are favored by 5.5 points at home. This seems appropriate given their stellar 8-1 straight up record at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse this season. The total is set at 222.5, slightly higher than Cleveland’s season average of 220.2. Based on the Lakers’ poor defense allowing 116.9 points per game (27th in NBA) and Cleveland’s home dominance, the over looks enticing at 222.5 points.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends
The Lakers have struggled to cover spreads recently, going 6-12 ATS over their last 18 contests. The total has gone under in 5 straight Lakers’ games, but their defense is porous and Mitchell could help the scoring push over 222.5. LA has fared well head-to-head against Cleveland, winning 5 of the previous 7 matchups. However, the Lakers are just 2-9 straight up on the road this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends
Like the Lakers, the Cavaliers have also failed to cover in 12 of their last 18 games. However, the over has hit in 6 of Cleveland’s last 8 overall. Cleveland is 4-1 straight up in its last 5 contests but just 3-10 against the spread at home this season. The total has gone over 7 times in the Cavs’ last 9 home games against the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 11/25/23 Betting Picks
Our analysis shows the Cavaliers are clearly the better team right now, evident by their 8-1 home record and 4-1 mark over their last 5 contests. The Lakers continue to underperform on the road. Cleveland has enough firepower in Mitchell and Garland to exploit LA’s 29th-ranked scoring defense as well. Some strong prop bets include Mitchell over 28.5 points and Jarrett Allen over 12.5 rebounds. We recommend betting on the Cavs at -5.5. The total of 222.5 is enticing as well. For all your daily free NBA tips, check back to find our predictions.
Free Pick and Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers 116, Los Angeles Lakers 108