Match analysis Today's games NBA standings EuroLeague Track record

Clippers vs Cavaliers prediction NBA · Thursday, December 31

Thu, Dec 31 · 3:00 PM ETRocket Arena · DAZN CLE, ClipperVision

LA Clippers

1-3 · away

Projected score

109-118

Cleveland Cavaliers

3-1 · home

24% win LACwin CLE 76%

FavoriteCLE

Projected margin8.7

Projected total227

ConfidenceMedium

At a glance

The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) host the LA Clippers (1-3) on Thursday, December 31 at 3:00 PM ET at Rocket Arena in NBA action. The Basketlog model gives the Cavaliers a 76% chance to win and projects a 109-118 score (Clippers – Cavaliers), about 227 total points. This season, the Cavaliers are 3-0 at home and the Clippers are 0-2 on the road. Since the start of the season: 3-1 for the Cavaliers and 1-3 for the Clippers (current streaks: Cavaliers W3, Clippers L3). A close game (margin of 5 points or fewer) happens in only 25% of cases according to the model. Reported injuries: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Clippers), Max Strus (Clippers), Brandon Ingram (Clippers), Bradley Beal (Clippers) and Jordan Miller (Clippers). Prediction confidence: medium.

The analysis Model

The Cavaliers start with a clear edge. The model projects Cavaliers 118 – 109 Clippers, a margin of about 8.7 points in favor of the Cavaliers and a total around 227 points. Expect a game at a standard NBA pace. The Clippers will be without Yanic Konan Niederhauser or Max Strus (and 3 others). Early season: the numbers still lean heavily on last season, so confidence stays cautious.

The Clippers need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
The Cavaliers' offense (119.6 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
The Clippers' defense allows clearly fewer points (111.5 pts/game).

What tips the balance

In points, positive = edge Cavaliers

Team strength (adjusted point differential)CLE +3.0 / LAC +0.4 per game

+2.6

Home-court advantageCavaliers at home

+2.3

InjuriesCLE: 0 out, 2 questionable · LAC: 5 out, 1 questionable

+3.8

Expected marginfor Cavaliers

+8.7

Scenarios

Cavaliers win by 10+

46%

Close game (margin ≤ 5)

25%

Clippers win by 10+

Stat comparison Current season

LACCLE

112.0

Points scored / game

119.6

111.5

Points allowed / game

116.0

45.9 %

Field goal %

46.8 %

39.0 %

3-point %

36.7 %

35.3

3-pointers attempted / game

37.5

78.6 %

Free throw %

79.3 %

40.8

Rebounds / game

47.0

25.0

Assists / game

26.3

12.5

Steals / game

8.8

4.5

Blocks / game

7.5

23.0

Turnovers / game

17.3

Players to watch

Clippers

Darius GarlandG · #1021.5pts / game

Darius GarlandG · #106.5assists

Rui HachimuraF · #286.0rebounds

Cavaliers

Donovan MitchellG · #4524.8pts / game

James HardenG · #16.8assists

Evan MobleyC · #410.0rebounds

Recent form

Last 5 games (including preseason early in the season)

LAC

122-110W

121-96L

125-117L

108-101L

103-87

CLE

132-116L

114-106W

125-121W

127-125 OTW WSH

121-111

Head-to-head

2 meetings scheduled this season.

Second opinion

Our model compared with ESPN's public model (BPI). When they agree, the prediction is more solid.

Basketlog

LAC 24% · CLE 76%

ESPN BPI

LAC 23% · CLE 77%

✓ Both models pick the same favorite.

Team comparison

LAC		CLE
1-3	Record	3-1
112.0	Points scored / game	119.6
111.5	Points allowed / game	116.0
+0.4	Adjusted margin / game	+3.0
L3	Current streak	W3
1-3	Last 10 games	3-1
0-2 road	Home / road record	3-0 home
42-40 (+1.1)	Last season	52-30 (+4.1)
No	Played yesterday	No

Injury report Clippers

Yanic Konan Niederhauser COut

Max Strus GOut

Brandon Ingram FOut

Bradley Beal GOut

Jordan Miller GOut

Rui Hachimura FDay-To-Day

Injury report Cavaliers

Meleek Thomas GDay-To-Day

Jaylon Tyson GDay-To-Day

Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data; early in the season they rely heavily on last season. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.