Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland-Cavaliers December 31st 2024

At 9:00 ET, the Cavaliers (-177) will be in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers (+150) at Crypto.com Arena. This non-conference matchup will be televised on SN-LA.

Cleveland comes into this game as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28-4 and a 7-game win streak. On the other side, the Lakers are 7th in the West at 18-13 and have won their last two games.

Cavaliers vs. Lakers Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers
• Where: Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena
• Date: Tuesday, December 31st
• Betting Odds CLE -4.5, CLE -177 | LAL +150 O/U 228.5

The Cavaliers Can Win If…

The Cavaliers improved to 28-4 on the season with a 113-95 road win over the Warriors on Monday. Cleveland entered the game as 4-point favorites and covered the spread, while the total score of 208 points fell well short of the 231-point over/under line.

A key moment in the game came when the Cavaliers went on a 12-0 run, turning a 49-41 deficit into a 53-49 lead. They held the Warriors to just 11 points in the 2nd quarter and outscored them 37-27 in the 3rd to take an 83-65 lead into the 4th, where both teams scored 30 points.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 25 points and 8 assists in their win over the Warriors, shooting 58.8% from the field. Donovan Mitchell added 23 points, with 15 of those coming in the 3rd quarter, and hit 5 threes at a 45.5% rate.

Cleveland made 18 threes as a team, shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc, while finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 45.8%. Jarrett Allen contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the field.

The Cavaliers put on a defensive clinic against the Warriors, holding them to just 95 points on 33% shooting from the field. Cleveland was especially dominant in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed only 11 points. Golden State managed 27 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters and added 30 in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cavaliers’ strong defensive effort.

From beyond the arc, the Warriors hit just 9 threes, shooting 23% from deep. The Cavaliers also sent Golden State to the line 26 times, where they made 20 free throws. Cleveland controlled the boards with 43 defensive rebounds, though they did allow 14 offensive boards. The Cavaliers also contributed 10 steals and 6 blocks in the win.

• In their last ten games away from home, the Cavaliers have a straight up record of 7-3 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 120 points per game in this stretch.
• The last ten games that Cleveland was favored, they have an ATS mark of 7-3 while going 9-1 straight up.
• Over their last five games, the Cavaliers have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 4-1 vs. the spread.

The Lakers Can Win If…

The Lakers improved to 18-13 with a 132-122 win over the Kings on Saturday. Playing at home, Los Angeles entered the game as +3 point underdogs but covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 254, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 222 by 32 points.

After a 40-31 lead in the 1st quarter, the Lakers stumbled in the 2nd, losing it 35-25. However, they bounced back in the 3rd, outscoring the Kings 42-24, thanks in part to a 12-0 run that stretched the score from 100-90 to 112-90. The Kings won the 4th quarter 32-25, but the Lakers’ strong 3rd quarter was enough to secure the win.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a 132-122 win over the Kings, posting 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 75% from the field. Austin Reaves added 26 points and 16 assists, hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate, while Rui Hachimura contributed 21 points, connecting on 4 threes at 80% efficiency.

As a team, the Lakers shot 59.7% from the field and 53.8% from beyond the arc, making 14 threes. Davis scored 11 points in the 3rd quarter, while Dalton Knecht and Max Christie each added 7 points in the final period.

Even though the Lakers gave up 122 points to the Kings, they still managed to come out on top. Sacramento shot 51% from the field, scoring 31 points in the 1st quarter, 35 in the 2nd, and 32 in the 4th. The Lakers’ best defensive effort came in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed 24 points.

Los Angeles did a solid job defending the three, holding the Kings to just 11 made threes on 27% shooting. The Lakers also sent Sacramento to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 11. Defensively, the Lakers recorded 4 steals and 3 blocks.

• In their last three home games, Los Angeles has averaged 110 points per game while allowing 104. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-0 while going 3-0 vs. the spread.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 5-5 straight up.
• In their last three games, the Lakers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

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The Lean

The Cavaliers is our selection to secure the victory, with a projected score of 130-112. We also like them to cover the spread, so we suggest betting on the Cavaliers at -4.5.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 228.5, and our model projects the Cavaliers and Lakers to reach a combined total of 242 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

Lakers Host Red-Hot Cavs in a New Year’s Eve Showdown

The NBA is closing out 2024 with a bang as the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers roll into Los Angeles to take on the Lakers on Tuesday night. This matchup is packed with storylines: the Cavs are streaking, the Lakers just made a big trade, and both teams have a lot to prove as they wrap up the year.

Cavs Are on Fire

Cleveland is coming in red-hot with a seven-game winning streak, including a 113-95 blowout win over the Warriors on Monday. Their defense was lights out, holding Golden State to just 33% shooting.

This isn’t just a lucky stretch either. The Cavs have won 11 of their last 12 games, which explains why they’re off to the best start in franchise history. Darius Garland led the way against Golden State, dropping 25 points and giving a big shoutout to how the team is clicking

The Cavs’ balanced roster has been a huge factor. Donovan Mitchell and Garland are leading the charge, but with six players averaging double digits, Cleveland’s depth is what really makes them dangerous.

The Lakers Are Turning Heads Too

The Lakers are also heating up, winning five of their last six games. In Saturday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Anthony Davis went beast mode with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. And with LeBron James out due to illness, Austin Reaves stepped up big time, dishing out a career-high 16 assists alongside his 26 points.

But the Lakers aren’t done making moves. They just shook up the roster in a trade with Brooklyn, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and some draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

Finney-Smith is pumped to be in L.A.:

LeBron, always the leader, is already hyped about his new teammates:

What to Watch For in This Game

For Cleveland, keeping the defense locked in has been key. Their ability to stifle teams like Golden State and Philly is what’s keeping them ahead of the pack. With Garland and Mitchell leading the charge, Cleveland’s entire rotation has stepped up to deliver.

For Los Angeles, integrating the new players is a priority. Finney-Smith and Milton bring defensive versatility and solid scoring, but how quickly they can adapt to the system remains to be seen. If LeBron and Davis are unavailable, players like Reaves, Knecht, and the newcomers will need to carry the load against a deep Cavs squad.

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Why This Game Is Big

For Cleveland, it’s about keeping their momentum alive as they look to close their Western Conference road trip strong. For the Lakers, it’s the first test of their revamped roster and a chance to show they can hang with the league’s best.

Both teams are on a roll, making this showdown the perfect way to end the year. With stars, depth, and high stakes on the line, this game has all the ingredients to be an instant classic.

Don’t miss it—this one’s going to be special.