The Lakers (10-12) face Cleveland (15-9) on Wednesday evening for the second time this season, this one coming in Ohio. The game tips at 4:30 p.m. on Spectrum SportsNet, TNT and 710 ESPN radio.
Below are three things to know ahead of the matchup:
AD’S RIDICULOUS RUN
There’s been one major key to the Lakers winning eight of their last 10 games: Anthony Davis. How about this production:
- 35.3 points
- 64.8 percent field goals
- 45.4 percent threes
- 88.0 percent free throws
- 15.6 rebounds (3.9 offensive)
- 2.9 blocks
- 1.2 steals
- +10.6 net rating
“He's been unbelievable, man,” said four-time MVP LeBron James. “On both sides of the floor. I mean, playing like the MVP of this league. Just straight dominance. Straight dominance.”
AD out-dueled Giannis Antetokounmpo and the No. 1 Bucks defense on Friday towards 44 points with 10 boards and three blocks, and followed up by exploding for 55 points on 22 of 30 shooting, with 17 boards and three more blocks.
For the first time since the Bubble, Davis has had a sustained run of health.
“The confidence comes from him being healthy, and getting in great, great, tip-top shape, and being able to play pain free,” explained Darvin Ham. “Once you’re in that place physically, his game speaks for itself. People hadn’t seen it in a while because he’s dealt with different injuries, but now they’re seeing it … we wouldn’t be in the position we are now without him playing like that.”
He'll certainly be atop the Cavs’ scouting report.
INJURY REPORT
Either LeBron or AD has been questionable to play for most games of late, but against the Cavs, both come with a listing of probable. That gets the Lakers off on the right foot.
Meanwhile, neither Troy Brown Jr. nor Lonnie Walker IV are on the report, after one or the other had been on it with a sore left foot for the previous few games. There is a new Laker on there, however, as Wenyen Gabriel makes an appearance due to left shoulder sprain: he’s listed as out.
For Cleveland, their main concern of late has been 2021-22 All-Star Jarrett Allen, who has missed five straight games due to a low back contusion. He is listed as questionable, which does give him a chance to return. The Cavs will be without Dean Wade, who has a left shoulder sprain.
CAVS NOTES
Contrary to logic, the Cavs have been better defensively in Allen’s absence during their last five games, improving to first in defensive efficiency while allowing less than one point per possession over that stretch.
Meanwhile, their offense has taken a bit of a hit, as they’re at 104.7 points per possession in their last five games, including their sixth-worst offensive game of the season, against the Knicks, on Sunday.
One issue is nearly as surprising as their defensive effectiveness without Allen: the backcourt pairing of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell has been less productive on offense than expected, at least when they play together. In fact, according to STAT Factor, Mitchell and Garland rank 30th out of 35 two-man duos for the Cavs in offensive efficiency, at 106.2, compared to 108.2 on defense, a net rating of -2.0. They’re still figuring out the balance of who has the ball, and when, and could perhaps use more time together.
Each is doing a lot of individual scoring, with Cleveland ranking 20th in assist percentage, two spots behind the Lakers. Early this year, the Cavs ranked No. 1 in three-point percentage, and while they’ve slipped a bit, they’re still sixth in the NBA, at 37.8 percent, relative to L.A.’s 33.0 percent. Yet in the last 10 games, the Cavs are just 18th (34.5 percent) and the Lakers 8th (37.1 percent), with Cleveland attempting 31.6 (22nd) to LAL’s 37.1 (29th).