LeBron James’ Cavaliers Favored By Double Digits Over Kobe Bryant’s Lakers

USA Today

It has been another rough season for the Los Angeles Lakers with the once-dominant franchise set to miss the NBA playoffs for a third consecutive year. Although the Lakers will be on the outside looking in on the postseason yet again, Los Angeles has been on a roll as of late with three wins in the last five games.

On Thursday, the Lakers will face another tough challenge in the form of LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers may not be in the same class as the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, but Cleveland is still considered to be the best team in the Eastern Conference and the favorite to advance to the NBA Finals.

As of right now, the Cavaliers are the favorites going into this matchup as expected. Cleveland is sporting a -10 point spread (via Sportsbook.ag) and may be able to easily cover the double-digit spread.

One big question mark for the Lakers on Thursday night is the playing status of superstar Kobe Bryant. The future Hall of Famer has been dealing with a sore right shoulder which has kept him out quite a few games as late. Head coach Byron Scott maintains that Bryant is still “50-50” on whether he’ll play tonight against the visiting Cavaliers at the Staples Center.

Even if Kobe is unable to face LeBron one last time, the Lakers may continue to be a force to be reckoned with. The talented young core of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle have been able to shoulder the load in Bryant’s absence over the past few years with many believing this trio might be turning things around for the struggling franchise.

Following this final showdown of the season against the Cavaliers, the Lakers will remain in Los Angeles to face Carmelo Anthony’s New York Knicks on Sunday. Cleveland, however, will have a much tougher task going up against the Lakers’ division rivals in the Los Angeles Clippers on earlier on the same day at the Staples Center.