LA CLIPPERS VS. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ODDS AND PREDICTIONS FOR JANUARY 29, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from today’s slate features the LA Clippers (30-14 SU, 25-19 ATS) taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-16 SU, 23-18-2 ATS).

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

 

Tipoff

• When: Monday, January 29, 2024
  
• Time: 7:00 PM ET
  
• Where: Rocket Mortgage Field House
  
• Location: Cleveland, OH
  
• TV: BSOH and BSSC

LA Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Odds (Via DraftKings)

LA Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

Can The Clippers Continue Their Hot Streak Against The Cavaliers?

LA Clippers Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 118.2 PPG – 10TH     
• Offensive Efficiency: 120.7 points per 100 possessions – 4TH         
• Scoring Defense: 111.7 PPG – 8TH         
• Defensive Efficiency: 114.0 points per 100 possessions – 11TH    

The LA Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the association right now. After producing just three wins across their first 10 games, the Clippers have gone 27-7 since that time. That is an impressive run, to say the least.

The Clippers have the third-best record in the Western Conference, and they have posted eight wins in their last 10 outings. Not only that, but Los Angeles comes into this tilt against the Cavaliers riding the momentum of a five-game winning streak. 

This includes an impressive 115-96 road win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. This was an impressive win because the Celtics were 20-1 at home. 

Kawhi Leonard paced the Clippers’ scoring attack with 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, and two assists. 

Daniel Theis came off the bench and contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Kawhi Leonard added 17 points, six rebounds, and a pair of steals. 

The Clippers’ victory avenged an earlier season loss to Boston back in late December. Boston won that game 145-108. 

“Yeah, guys were pretty motivated,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, via ESPN. “They came to LA and beat us pretty bad. So, guys were locked in. We understand it was a back-to-back. But guys were locked in. They were up for the challenge. It was a game we thought PG might be out, but he wanted to play and see where we’re at. Just a measuring stick against a great team.”

The Clippers put on a defensive clinic, limiting the Celtics to just 36 percent shooting from the field (36-for-100) and 25 percent (10-for-40) from beyond the arc. Should Los Angeles manage to duplicate this effort against the Cavaliers, they are all but assured of their sixth straight win. 

Can The Cavaliers Knock Off One Of The Top Teams In The Association?

Cleveland Cavaliers Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 114.0 PPG – 19TH 
• Offensive Efficiency: 115.5 points per 100 possessions – 16TH         
• Scoring Defense: 109.8 PPG – 3RD    
• Defensive Efficiency: 111.3 points per 100 possessions – 2ND    

On the other side of this matchup, The Cleveland Cavaliers occupy the No. 5 spot in the conference playoff race. Cleveland is playing some good basketball as well, posting nine wins across their last 10 decisions. 

This includes a 112-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks – the same team that beat them just two nights earlier. Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 32 points while totaling eight rebounds, and six assists. He also knocked down six of his 12 attempts from 3-point range. 

Jarrett Allen had a solid outing at both ends of the court. He scored 24 points, hauled in 14 rebounds, and blocked two shots. Overall, the Cavaliers shot just 41 percent from the field against Milwaukee. 

They will need to be much more efficient against a Clippers team that has found its groove. 

Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let us look at the all-important betting trends for both sides.

The Picks

The Spread

The Clippers opened as a consensus three-point favorite. At the time of this writing, the line has dipped to 2.5 points for the road team (per pre-game.com). Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season. 

• The Clippers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
• Los Angeles is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 matchups against Cleveland.
• In the Clippers’ last five games against Central Division teams, they are 4-1 against the spread.
• Los Angeles is an impressive 15-4 ATS in its last 19 January games.
• The Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
• In its last five January games, Cleveland is 4-1 against the spread.
• The Cavaliers are 6-3 ATS the last nine times they have played at home on a Monday.

Going with the road team to cover the spread is the best option based on these trends.

Prediction: LA Clippers (-2.5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 226.5 points. The line has recently moved to 226. Here is why going with the “OVER” is the smart choice. 

• The total has gone OVER six times in the Clippers’ last nine games.

• The OVER total has prevailed four times in Cleveland’s last five games against the Clippers.

• In the Cavaliers’ last 12 games against Western Conference opponents, the OVER total cashed in eight times.

• The total has gone OVER five times in Cleveland’s last six matchups against Western Conference teams. 

Prediction: OVER 226 points

Player Prop Bets

The key player for the road team is Kawhi Leonard. He currently has -125 odds of scoring more than 24.5 points and -105 odds of finishing with less than 24.5 points. Here is a look at how his numbers compare with the projected points total. 

• In 18 career games against the Cavaliers, Leonard is averaging 23.1 points per contest.
• On the season, Leonard is averaging 23.6 points per outing. 
• In 20 road contests, he is averaging 24.8 PPG.

• Leonard has played 10 times against Eastern Conference teams. In those contests, he is averaging 22.3 points per outing.
• During the month of January, he is averaging 22 PPG, exceeding the points total for this matchup five times during that stretch.

Going with the “under” for Leonard is the smart choice based on the above trends.

Prediction: Kawhi Leonard UNDER 24.5 points

The key player to watch for the home team is Donovan Mitchell. He currently has -120 odds of scoring more than 29.5 points and -110 odds of scoring less than 29.5 points. Let us see how his season splits stack up against the projected points total. 

• Donovan Mitchell has played against the Cavaliers 16 times in his career. In those contests, he has averaged 25.6 points per game.
• On the season, the Mitchell is averaging 27.7 points per outing. 

• In 17 home games, he is averaging 29.3 PPG.
• Mitchell has played against Western Conference teams 10 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 27 points per outing.
• During the month of January – a sample size of 11 games — Mitchell is averaging 27.2 PPG, exceeding the points total four times during that stretch.

Given the above trends, going with the “under” for Mitchell is the best option.

Prediction: Donovan Mitchell UNDER 29.5 points

James’s LA Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Picks

• The Spread: LA Clippers (-2.5)
• Over/Under: OVER 226 points
• Player Prop Bet #1: Kawhi Leonard Under 24.5 points
• Player Prop Bet #2: Donovan Mitchell Under 29.5 points