The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-1 straight up and 7-9 against the spread over their last 16 games. After having a franchise record-tying win streak of 13 games snapped last Friday, the Cavaliers will look to make a new streak with a third-straight win Thursday night hosting the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers vs. Cavaliers 2017 odds: Cleveland heavy home favorite for Thursday matchup
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to pick up a seventh straight win over the Los Angeles Lakers when the teams highlight the NBA betting slate Thursday night.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland is a 9.5-point home favorite at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Cavaliers have won each of their last six games against Los Angeles and are 3-3 ATS over that stretch.
Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers
When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Betting Line / Total: Cleveland -9.5 / 53 Points
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James may be enjoying the best season of his career in 2017. James is posting career highs in assists per game (9.0), field goal percentage (58.3) and three-point percentage (42.2) while also averaging a healthy 28.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
With Derrick Rose and Isaiah Thomas both out indefinitely at point guard, James has worked facilitating into his game to help complement Dwyane Wade playing the role of sixth-man at the position. The recipe has been working for the Cavaliers, who have closed the gap on Boston for the top spot in the East.
In their last 16 games against Western Conference opponents, the Cavaliers are just 3-12-1 ATS per the OddsShark NBA Database.
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles wraps up a four-game road trip Thursday after going 2-1 SU and ATS through the first three games of the trip with upset wins over Philadelphia and Charlotte. Jordan Clarkson has played well off the bench, outscoring starting point guard Lonzo Ball, 50-32, on the trip despite playing 44 less minutes. The Lakers are 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog of six points or more.
Thursday night’s total is set at 219 points. The UNDER is 4-1 in both Los Angeles and Cleveland’s last five games.
With Cleveland ranking 22nd in points allowed with 107.4 points per game and Los Angeles ranking 24th with 108.9 points per game against, both of these teams may be comfortable playing in a shootout. Trying to trade blows with the Cavaliers seems like a more favorable strategy for Los Angeles than trying to shut down James with its porous defense.
