The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to continue their blistering start to the 2024-25 NBA season when they entertain the challenge of the Los Angeles Lakers at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Thursday.
The Lakers, on the other hand, head to Ohio in search of an immediate response to a first defeat of the campaign against the Phoenix Suns last time out.
Match preview
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Having finished fourth in the Eastern Conference in each of the last two seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers have re-established themselves as a force to reckon with, albeit without necessarily mounting a significant championship charge.
Now under the tutelage of Kenny Atkinson, who replaced John-Blair Bickerstaff during the off-season, the Cavs have flown out of the blocks with four wins from as many matches after their victory over the New York Knicks last time out.
A back-and-forth clash at the Madison Square Garden saw the Cavaliers trail by four points heading into the final 12 minutes, where Darius Garland led a stunning comeback with 15 points in the final quarter to propel his side to a 110-104 triumph.
This followed earlier wins over the Toronto Raptors, the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards, meaning that the Cavaliers are one of only two sides to have won four matches this season alongside the Boston Celtics.
Awaiting them next is arguably their toughest challenge to date against a Los Angeles Lakers side that have won the last three editions of this fixture, including a Summer League matchup in July's most recent encounter.
Thursday's meeting will see the Cavs welcome back local hero LeBron James, who led the franchise to its solitary title in 2016 courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 series victory over the Golden State Warriors in the finals after being 3-1 down.
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Speaking of James, the NBA's all-time leader in points will head to his hometown off the back of one of the worst scoring nights of his entire career in the Lakers' defeat to the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Centre on Wednesday.
James tallied just 11 points on 3-14 shooting from the field—his lowest field-goal percentage in a game since Halloween 2007—as the Lakers fell to a defeat against the Suns in the second of two meetings between the sides three days apart.
Leading by seven points heading into the final 12 minutes, the Lakers were on course to pick up a fourth straight victory before their worst fourth-quarter performance of the season saw them suffer a 109-105 loss.
That snapped a three-game winning streak for JJ Redick's men, who have more than made a promising start to the new season nonetheless despite not making any major additions during the off-season.
In the second of five straight games on the road, Thursday's visitors will be keen to pick up a first away win of the campaign before heading to the Scotiabank Arena to lock horns with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.
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Team News
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Los Angeles Lakers' Christian Wood is still recovering from an arthroscopic surgical procedure on his left knee and is set to be sidelined for the next month.
Jarred Vanderbilt also misses out though a foot injury, while Christian Koloko is nearing a return to action as he awaits clearance from the league amid blood clot issues.
Emoni Bates is set for a fairly lengthy spell out of action for the Cleveland Cavaliers, having recently undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Guard Max Strus is currently nursing a hip problem which has kept him on the sidelines since the pre-season opener against the Chicago Bulls on October 9.
Craig Porter Jr was absent from his side's victory over the Knicks last time out but could return to suit up for Thursday's encounter, albeit in a limited capacity.
Cleveland Cavaliers possible starting five:
Garland, Mitchell; Wade, Mobley; Allen
Los Angeles Lakers possible starting five:
Russell, Reaves; James, Hachimura; Davis
We say: Lakers to win by 5+ points
Despite LeBron James's horror show last time out, the Lakers only lost by four points, which is a testament to how impressive they have been so far.
The Cavs are sure to pose a stern test on Thursday, but we can see the Lakers inflicting a first defeat on their hosts when all is said and done.
