Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 10/29/2021

The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Staples Center on Friday night.

The Cleveland Cavaliers started their season with a couple of losses on the trot, but they’re suddenly gunning for a fourth straight victory after pulling off the upset against the Clippers in a 92-79 road win on Wednesday. Collin Sexton led the team with 26 points on 12 of 20 shooting, Darius Garland added 16 points with six assists, Ricky Rubio scored 15 points off the bench while Evan Mobley chipped in with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. As a team, the Cavaliers shot just 40 percent from the field and a miserly three of 20 from the 3-point line but this win was all about their defense as they set the tone by holding the Clippers to just 14 points in the first quarter to take the early lead, before pushing the margin out in the fourth quarter where they held the Clippers to just 15 points.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled so far this season as they’ve lost three of their first five games and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting beaten by the lowly Thunder in a 123-115 road loss on Wednesday. Anthony Davis led the team with 30 points and eight rebounds on 12 of 22 shooting, Russell Westbrook racked up a triple-double of 20 points with 14 rebounds and 13 assists while Carmelo Anthony and Avery Bradley each scored 13 points off the bench. As a team, the Lakers shot 50 percent from the field and 11 of 35 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 41 points in the first quarter to lead by as many as 26 points, before getting run down in the second half where they were outscored by 67-43.

Looking at the betting trends, the Cavaliers are 9-24 ATS in their last 33 road games, 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games against a team with a losing record and 18-40-1 ATS in their last 59 games overall. The Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games, 0-6 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record and 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall.

Head to head, the over is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings overall and the Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings in Los Angeles.

LeBron James is currently listed as questionable for this one with an ankle injury, so the Lakers could be shorthanded in this one. The Cavaliers have emerged as one of the dangerous rebuilding teams with three straight wins and they would’ve taken so much confidence from their dominant win over the Clippers in their last outing. The Lakers will still be fuming after blowing a 26-point lead to the Thunder on Wednesday, but even if James doesn’t suit up, they should have more than enough to get the job done. However, the Cavaliers are a streaky team and I get the feeling that they will be at least competitive in this one.