NBA Picks: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, 1/13/13, 9:30 PM EST, TV: TWSN
Opening Point Spread: Los Angeles -8
Current Betting Line: Los Angeles -7
Opening Total: 211
Current Total: 211.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping that forward Pau Gasol can return to action Sunday night

Cleveland has dropped three of its last four games, including a 98-91 setback to the Denver Nuggets as 12.5-point road underdogs Friday night, while going UNDER the total for a second consecutive contest. “We’re still young and dumb and don’t understand what we have to do in the third quarter,” stated Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott. The Cavaliers have split four meetings with the Lakers since the departure of star LeBron James to Miami, which includes a 100-94 victory as 6.5-point home underdogs on Dec. 11. Cleveland is 4-4 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points this season, with the OVER going 5-3 in that situation.

The Cavaliers are led offensively by point guard Kyrie Irving, who has averaged 24.5 points on 51.4 percent shooting in two career games against the Lakers. He has also managed to average 27.8 points and 5.8 assists over his last five contests overall. Cleveland should be able to get after it on the offensive glass, as it has out-rebounded its opponent in that situation in 28 of 38 games this season.

Los Angeles is mired in its longest losing streak since March 2007, as it dropped its sixth consecutive game in a 116-101 setback to the Oklahoma City Thunder as six-point home underdogs Friday night. “I told the team, the biggest thing is our season starts Sunday,” stated Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. He scored 28 points last time out, while leading the league in averaging 30.0 points. The franchise is 10-9 at the Staples Center this year, including a 4-3 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 5-5 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points this season, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

The Lakers will be playing their fourth game without center Dwight Howard (shoulder), while power forward Pau Gasol is listed as questionable after missing the last three contests with concussion symptoms. Los Angeles has split the last four meetings in this series, with both wins coming at home, as it held Cleveland to a combined 34 percent shooting from the floor in those affairs.