The Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are scheduled to face each other. On one hand, the Lakers, who started the season with a bang have found themselves in a bit of a slump now. Since the All-Star game, they haven’t won important matches and have slipped down to the fourth spot in the Western Conference.

On the other hand, there are the Cavs, a team that isn’t anywhere close to grabbing a spot in the playoffs. They are standing twelfth in the Eastern Conference with a terrible 17-27 record. However, with the Lakers running on fumes, the Cavaliers, on their best day, can give anyone a run for their money. So who is most likely to win this matchup?

Los Angeles Lakers: Injury updates and lineup prediction

With a 28-17 record, the Lakers have sealed a spot in the postseason for themselves. However, maintaining their momentum has been a point of struggle for them. This has a lot to do with the star players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, being sidelined because of injuries.

First, Davis fell to a calf injury, and ever since then, Bron had been the one carrying them on his shoulders. But after his ankle injury against the Atlanta Hawks, they haven’t been able to pick themselves up and get back to winning ways. Playing the Cavs, who are an average team, will be their shot to get back on track.

Trending

7’4 Victor Wembanyama, Accused of Disrespecting Knicks Star, Gets MVP Shout-Out From Unbothered Jalen Brunson

April 19, 2024 02:58 PM EDT

After Nike, Sha’Carri Richardson Follows Lebron James Footsteps In Historic Partnership With Sprite

April 19, 2024 01:40 AM EDT

Possible Shohei Ohtani Ban From MLB Has Shaq Questioning $700 Million Contract

April 16, 2024 05:20 PM EDT

Is Dawn Staley Married? Details on South Carolina Coach’s Love Life and Special Bond With Lisa Boyer

March 16, 2024 06:41 PM EDT

Why Is Gabbie Marshall Not Invited to the 2024 WNBA Draft Despite Graduating From Iowa?

April 13, 2024 06:21 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Without their star duo, Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Marc Gasol are their only hope. Schroder was the lead scorer in their last matchup against the 76ers. But they need to work on not turning over the ball so much. There is no set timeline for Bron and Davis’ return. Until then, the Lakers will have to do without them.

With that, the predicted lineup would be Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Marc Gasol.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Injury updates and lineup prediction

The Cavaliers are entering this matchup with a win in their last game against the Chicago Bulls. What makes this loss for the Bulls more grotesque is that the Cavs were actually without their lead scorer, Collin Sexton, in this game.

The Bulls showed no energy and were all over the place, and it looked like they did not even challenge the Cavaliers. The Cavs ended up taking a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, and it was game over.

Without Sexton, it was Darius Garland who took charge and finished the night with 22 points under his pocket. The rest of the support came from Jarrett Allen, who added 19 points to the scoreboard. There is no update on Sexton’s return, which means he might be out for this game too.

Now that Isaiah Hartenstein has been traded and Andre Drummond remains out too, the predicted lineup would be Isaac Okoro, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Cedi Osman, and Larry Nance Jr.

Game prediction

The Lakers are the favorites to win this game. There is only so much the Cavs can do to stop the reigning champions from getting this victory. But without AD and Bron, this won’t be as easy.