LeBron James has torched his hometown Cavaliers, going 19-3 in his career versus Cleveland while averaging 28.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.4 steals.
Generally a Wednesday night regular season game in Cleveland wouldn’t generate a ton of interest to the average NBA fan outside the state of Ohio, but it will always be a spectacle when LeBron James returns to face his former team.
Cleveland and L.A. are both off to solid starts, with the Cavaliers posting a 4-0 record following a 110-104 win against the Knicks on Monday, while Cleveland is 3-1 after falling 109-105 in Phoenix.
The Cavaliers opened as 4.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 226.5.
Lakers vs. Cavaliers NBA Betting Odds
The Lakers swept the season series last year, outscoring the Cavs by an average of 12.5 points per game. That’s par for the course for LeBron as he’s torched his hometown team with L.A. and Miami. James is 19-3 in his career versus Cleveland, averaging 28.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.4 steals.
The Lakers have thrived against Eastern Conference opponents, going 14-1 in their last 15 interconference games. That record will be put to the test against a Cavs team that is 9-3 straight up in their last 12 home games.
Something has to give on Wednesday as both Cleveland and L.A. are 4-0 against the spread to start the season. History leans toward the Lakers as they have covered in five of their last seven games against Cleveland, while the Cavs are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight against Western Conference teams.
These teams have both evenly split the Over/Under this season, but there’s reason to believe this could be a higher scoring game as the Over has hit in eight of the last 10 head-to-heads played in Cleveland.
Los Angeles Lakers
Bronny James certainly won’t log meaningful minutes, but I would be shocked if LeBron doesn’t make sure they’re on the court together briefly in Cleveland. The more meaningful story for L.A. early in the season has been the play of Anthony Davis, who is averaging an NBA-high 32.8 ppg. Davis’ 29-point performance against Phoenix was the first time he hasn’t hit 30 this year, but he continues to lead the team in points, rebounds (12.0), steals (1.5) and blocks (2.5).
While LeBron managed just 11 points on Monday, it extended his NBA-record streak of scoring at least 10 points in a game to a ridiculous 1,226. The wheels haven’t fallen off the elder James as he’s still averaging 20.0 ppg after that performance while leading the team with 7.5 assists. Make no mistake, this team still clearly runs through LeBron and Davis.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland scored a season-high 34 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, to help the Cavs stay perfect against the Knicks. Donovan Mitchell added 25 points, while Evan Mobley had 17 points and eight rebounds. Jarrett Allen came in clutch with 15 points and 15 boards. Cleveland’s offence has seen massive improvements early in the year as they rank third in the NBA in ppg (123.5), second in three-point percentage (41.0) and first in field goal percentage (52.8).
One reason for the Cavaliers improved offence has been depth bench scoring, which they desperately missed last season. Ty Jerome, who missed nearly all of last season with an ankle injury, has been an aggressive an efficient option for the Cavs. Jerome only saw seven minutes of action on Monday, but in the first three games of the season he averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals over 16.7 minutes. If Jerome can average close to those numbers the rest of the season, this Cleveland offence will continue to see huge improvement.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Cavaliers?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 29 Oct 11:04pm | - | - | O +226.5 -115 |
| Closing 31 Oct 12:53am | - | - | O +233.5 -120 |
- Regular Season
Lakers Team Leaders
| Points |
26.86 |
| Assists |
9.05 |
| Rebounds |
11.29 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.24 |
| Blocks |
1.86 |
| Points |
24.33 |
| Assists |
6.71 |
| Rebounds |
10.32 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.57 |
| Blocks |
1.62 |
- Regular Season
Cavaliers Team Leaders
| Points |
26.86 |
| Assists |
9.05 |
| Rebounds |
11.29 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.24 |
| Blocks |
1.86 |
| Points |
24.33 |
| Assists |
6.71 |
| Rebounds |
10.32 |
| FG% |
100 |
| Steals |
1.57 |
| Blocks |
1.62 |
Injuries
Anthony Davis (PF)
Quincy Olivari (PG)
Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)
Anthony Davis (PF)
Austin Reaves (PG)
Cam Reddish (SF)
D'Angelo Russell (PG)
Anthony Davis (PF)
Dalton Knecht (SF)
Anthony Davis (PF)
Darius Garland (PG)
Ty Jerome (SG)
Darius Garland (PG)
Sam Merrill (PG)
Caris LeVert (SG)
Isaac Okoro (SF)
Dean Wade (SF)
Jarrett Allen (C)
Evan Mobley (C)
Jarrett Allen (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis (PF) | Prob Wed | Foot - 03 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Davis is dealing with a foot injury, but he is likely to play Wednesday's game against the Heat. |
|||||
| Quincy Olivari (PG) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 03 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Olivari will miss an undetermined length of time due to Ankle injury, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG) | Ques Fri | Groin - 02 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Hood-Schifino is battling with a groin injury, and it is unknown if he will play Friday versus Hawks. |
|||||
| Anthony Davis (PF) | Prob Sun | Foot - 01 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Davis is nursing a left plantar fasciitis, but he is projected to be active for Sunday's clash against the Jazz. |
|||||
| Austin Reaves (PG) | Ques Fri | Pelvis - 01 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Reaves is battling left pelvic contusion, and it is up in the air if he will take the court against the Hawks on Friday. |
|||||
| Cam Reddish (SF) | Ques Mon | Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Reddish is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will play Monday's clash versus the Timberwolves. |
|||||
| D'Angelo Russell (PG) | Ques Mon | Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Russell is ailing from an illness, and it is undetermined if he will take the court on Monday against the Timberwolves. |
|||||
| Anthony Davis (PF) | Prob Fri | Foot - 28 / 11 / 24 | 1-3 | 0-4 | + - |
|
Davis is nursing a foot injury, but he is projected to be active against the Thunder on Friday. |
|||||
| Dalton Knecht (SF) | Prob Fri | Quadricep - 28 / 11 / 24 | 1-3 | 0-4 | + - |
|
Knecht is bothered by a quadricep injury, but he is expected to play against the Thunder on Friday. |
|||||
| Anthony Davis (PF) | Prob Wed | Foot - 27 / 11 / 24 | 1-4 | 0-5 | + - |
|
Davis is battling soreness in his left foot, but he is projected to be active against the Spurs on Wednesday. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darius Garland (PG) | Ques Thurs | Head - 04 / 12 / 24 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
|
Garland exited the contest with a head injury, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Nuggets on Thursday. |
|||||
| Ty Jerome (SG) | Ques Thurs | Illness - 03 / 12 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Jerome is ailing with an illness, and it is unknown if he will play Thursday versus Nuggets. |
|||||
| Darius Garland (PG) | Prob Sun | Groin - 20 / 11 / 24 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Garland is dealing with left groin soreness, but he is expected to suit up against the Raptors on Sunday. |
|||||
| Sam Merrill (PG) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 24 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Merrill is hampered by an ankle injury, but he is expected to be available against the Raptors on Sunday. |
|||||
| Caris LeVert (SG) | Ques Fri | Knee - 18 / 11 / 24 | 5-2 | 4-3 | + - |
|
LeVert is dealing with a left knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will play against the Hawks on Friday. |
|||||
| Isaac Okoro (SF) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24 | 6-2 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Okoro suffered an ankle injury, and it is undermined if he will take the court against the Raptors on Sunday. |
|||||
| Dean Wade (SF) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24 | 6-2 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Wade is suffering from an ankle injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for return. |
|||||
| Jarrett Allen (C) | Prob Fri | Leg - 14 / 11 / 24 | 6-4 | 6-4 | + - |
|
Allen is laid up with a left lower leg strain, but he is expected to suit up against the Bulls on Friday. |
|||||
| Evan Mobley (C) | Prob Sun | Illness - 14 / 11 / 24 | 6-4 | 6-4 | + - |
|
Mobley is ailing from an illness, but he is projected to be active against the Hornets on Sunday. |
|||||
| Jarrett Allen (C) | Ques wed | Leg - 12 / 11 / 24 | 6-5 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Allen is dealing with a leg injury, and it is unclear if he will play Wednesday's game against the 76ers. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 29 Oct 11:04pm - - O +226.5 -115 Closing 31 Oct 12:53am - - O +233.5 -120 -
- Regular Season
Lakers Team Leaders
Points 26.86
Assists 9.05
Rebounds 11.29
FG% 100
Steals 1.24
Blocks 1.86
Points 24.33
Assists 6.71
Rebounds 10.32
FG% 100
Steals 1.57
Blocks 1.62
-
- Regular Season
Cavaliers Team Leaders
Points 26.86
Assists 9.05
Rebounds 11.29
FG% 100
Steals 1.24
Blocks 1.86
Points 24.33
Assists 6.71
Rebounds 10.32
FG% 100
Steals 1.57
Blocks 1.62
-
Injuries
Anthony Davis (PF)
Prob Wed Foot - 03 / 12 / 24Quincy Olivari (PG)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 12 / 24Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)
Ques Fri Groin - 02 / 12 / 24Anthony Davis (PF)
Prob Sun Foot - 01 / 12 / 24Austin Reaves (PG)
Ques Fri Pelvis - 01 / 12 / 24Cam Reddish (SF)
Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 12 / 24D'Angelo Russell (PG)
Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 12 / 24Anthony Davis (PF)
Prob Fri Foot - 28 / 11 / 24Dalton Knecht (SF)
Prob Fri Quadricep - 28 / 11 / 24Anthony Davis (PF)
Prob Wed Foot - 27 / 11 / 24Darius Garland (PG)
Ques Thurs Head - 04 / 12 / 24Ty Jerome (SG)
Ques Thurs Illness - 03 / 12 / 24Darius Garland (PG)
Prob Sun Groin - 20 / 11 / 24Sam Merrill (PG)
Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 11 / 24Caris LeVert (SG)
Ques Fri Knee - 18 / 11 / 24Isaac Okoro (SF)
Ques Sun Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24Dean Wade (SF)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24Jarrett Allen (C)
Prob Fri Leg - 14 / 11 / 24Evan Mobley (C)
Prob Sun Illness - 14 / 11 / 24Jarrett Allen (C)
Ques wed Leg - 12 / 11 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Anthony Davis (PF) Prob Wed Foot - 03 / 12 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Davis is dealing with a foot injury, but he is likely to play Wednesday's game against the Heat.
Quincy Olivari (PG) Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 12 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Olivari will miss an undetermined length of time due to Ankle injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG) Ques Fri Groin - 02 / 12 / 24 0-2 0-2 + - Hood-Schifino is battling with a groin injury, and it is unknown if he will play Friday versus Hawks.
Anthony Davis (PF) Prob Sun Foot - 01 / 12 / 24 0-2 0-2 + - Davis is nursing a left plantar fasciitis, but he is projected to be active for Sunday's clash against the Jazz.
Austin Reaves (PG) Ques Fri Pelvis - 01 / 12 / 24 0-2 0-2 + - Reaves is battling left pelvic contusion, and it is up in the air if he will take the court against the Hawks on Friday.
Cam Reddish (SF) Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 0-2 0-2 + - Reddish is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will play Monday's clash versus the Timberwolves.
D'Angelo Russell (PG) Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 12 / 24 0-2 0-2 + - Russell is ailing from an illness, and it is undetermined if he will take the court on Monday against the Timberwolves.
Anthony Davis (PF) Prob Fri Foot - 28 / 11 / 24 1-3 0-4 + - Davis is nursing a foot injury, but he is projected to be active against the Thunder on Friday.
Dalton Knecht (SF) Prob Fri Quadricep - 28 / 11 / 24 1-3 0-4 + - Knecht is bothered by a quadricep injury, but he is expected to play against the Thunder on Friday.
Anthony Davis (PF) Prob Wed Foot - 27 / 11 / 24 1-4 0-5 + - Davis is battling soreness in his left foot, but he is projected to be active against the Spurs on Wednesday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Darius Garland (PG) Ques Thurs Head - 04 / 12 / 24 0-0 0-0 + - Garland exited the contest with a head injury, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Nuggets on Thursday.
Ty Jerome (SG) Ques Thurs Illness - 03 / 12 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Jerome is ailing with an illness, and it is unknown if he will play Thursday versus Nuggets.
Darius Garland (PG) Prob Sun Groin - 20 / 11 / 24 4-2 3-3 + - Garland is dealing with left groin soreness, but he is expected to suit up against the Raptors on Sunday.
Sam Merrill (PG) Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 11 / 24 4-2 3-3 + - Merrill is hampered by an ankle injury, but he is expected to be available against the Raptors on Sunday.
Caris LeVert (SG) Ques Fri Knee - 18 / 11 / 24 5-2 4-3 + - LeVert is dealing with a left knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will play against the Hawks on Friday.
Isaac Okoro (SF) Ques Sun Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24 6-2 5-3 + - Okoro suffered an ankle injury, and it is undermined if he will take the court against the Raptors on Sunday.
Dean Wade (SF) Out indefinitely Ankle - 17 / 11 / 24 6-2 5-3 + - Wade is suffering from an ankle injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for return.
Jarrett Allen (C) Prob Fri Leg - 14 / 11 / 24 6-4 6-4 + - Allen is laid up with a left lower leg strain, but he is expected to suit up against the Bulls on Friday.
Evan Mobley (C) Prob Sun Illness - 14 / 11 / 24 6-4 6-4 + - Mobley is ailing from an illness, but he is projected to be active against the Hornets on Sunday.
Jarrett Allen (C) Ques wed Leg - 12 / 11 / 24 6-5 6-5 + - Allen is dealing with a leg injury, and it is unclear if he will play Wednesday's game against the 76ers.