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What To Expect In Tonight’s Lakers-Cavaliers Matchup

Tonight's matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers features both of the NBA's current eight-seeds.
Logan Potosky|
What To Expect In Tonight’s Lakers-Cavaliers Matchup
What To Expect In Tonight’s Lakers-Cavaliers Matchup

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Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers just had their four-game winning streak snapped in a season-worst 33-point defeat to the Miami Heat this past Wednesday night.

Tonight, the current Eastern Conference eight-seed Cavaliers will host the Western Conference eight-seed Los Angeles Lakers.

Here are four things to expect in tonight’s matchup.

1. Cleveland Receiving Reinforcements

According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Donovan Mitchell and Isaac Okoro will play tonight.

Mitchell missed Cleveland’s previous four games with a right hamstring strain, while Okoro missed the team’s previous nine games with left knee soreness.

2. Many Cavaliers Turnovers

Turning the ball over has been a struggle for the Wine and Gold so far this season.

They have averaged 15.8 turnovers per game in their last five contests, which includes a 19-turnover performance against the Heat this past Monday night.

3. “King James” In His Former Castle

Longtime former Cavalier LeBron James will play his fifth regular season game in Cleveland as a member of the Lakers.

The 38-year-old has averaged 34.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, one steal, and 1.3 blocks per game in his previous four contests against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, winning three of them.

The Wine and Gold are positively welcoming James back, though, as he led them to their only championship in franchise history back in 2016.

Today was also a special day for James, as his museum opened in his nearby hometown of Akron.

4. Lack of Lakers Threes

Los Angeles’ mark of 10.1 three-pointers made per game is tied for the fewest in the NBA.

Their 29.3 three-pointers attempted per game are the second-fewest in the league, and their 34.3% three-point percentage is sixth-worst in the league.

However, the Cavaliers’ 39.1% opponent three-point percentage is the fourth-highest in the NBA.

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Logan Potosky
LOGAN POTOSKY

Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

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