NBA Picks 3/18 – Cleveland Cavs @ LA Clippers

By Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (56-11) begin a five-game West Coast road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers (38-30) tonight at the Intuit Dome. This is the first of two regular season meeting between the teams. They’ll face off for a final time on March 30 in Cleveland. Cleveland is a 4.5-point favorite and the total is 231.5. 

The Cavaliers suffered a rare loss in their previous game on Sunday afternoon when they fell to the Orlando Magic 108-103 at home. The loss ended their 16-game winning streak. Cleveland’s last defeat prior to Sunday was on Feb. 4 against Boston. The Cavaliers appeared to be in control of the game as they led 60-47 at halftime, but were outscored 61-43 after the intermission. The Cavs held a 103-102 lead with 1:02 remaining in regulation but missed their final five shots of the game which allowed Orlando to prevail. 

Donovan Mitchell registered 23 points (9-28 FG, 3-14 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, five assists and a steal over 34 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Orlando. Mitchell returned to the court after missing the previous two games due to a groin issue. Jarrett Allen produced 20 points (8-11 FG, 4-6 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and a block over 32 minutes. It was Allen’s fifth double-double over his last eight appearances. 

The Clippers are coming off a dominant 123-88 victory over the fledgling Charlotte Hornets at home on Sunday night. The 17-50 Hornets were held below 90 points for the ninth time this season. James Harden amassed 31 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 9-9 FT), ten rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 31 minutes. Harden surpassed the 30-point mark for the ninth time this year. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points (9-16 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block over 27 minutes. The Clippers have won six of their last seven games and three straight games by at least 15 points.

GAME STORYLINES: CLEVELAND

After LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent for a second time in his career following the 2017-18 season, it was assumed that years of doom and gloom would follow. But the Cavs were able to overcome the loss of LeBron James in a somewhat quick manner due to a series of shrews decisions. Some of these decisions include drafting Darius Garland fifth overall in the 2019 NBA draft, trading for Jarrett Allen in January 2021, drafting Evan Mobley third overall in the 2021 NBA draft and finally trading for superstar guard Donovan Mitchell in September 2022.

Cleveland obtaining the foursome of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell over the course of four years (2019-2022) has catapulted them to the top of the NBA standings in 2025. Mitchell is the star of the bunch but the improvement and excellent play of Garland, Allen and Mobley has played a huge role in the Cavs dominance in 2024-25. The Cavaliers got off to a historic 15-0 start this year and have not looked back as they are off to the best start in franchise history. Cleveland will likely break the franchise-record for wins in a season which is 66 — set by the LeBron James-led 2008-09 squad.

Donovan Mitchell is putting together another fantastic season for a third straight year with the Cavs and eighth NBA season overall. The 28-year-old Louisville product is averaging 24.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 3.5 threes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 38 percent from long distance in 61 games. Mitchell was named an All-Star for the sixth time in his career this season.

NBA Picks 3/18 – Cleveland Cavs @ LA Clippers

The aforementioned trio of Darius Garland (21 pts, 6.7 asts, 1.2 stls, 2.9 threes, 47.7% from 2, 40.8% from 3), Evan Mobley (18.6 pts, 9.3 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1.6 blks, 1.1 threes, 56.8% from 2) and Jarrett Allen (13.7 pts, 10.2 rebs, 1 stl, 1 blk, 70.2% from 2) are also having tremendous season alongside Donovan Mitchell. Garland and Mobley were selected as All-Stars. The improvement of the 23-year-old Mobley has been huge for Cleveland as he was often criticized for being passive and inconsistent during his first three years in the NBA.

The Cavaliers made a significant addition at the trade deadline when they traded for Atlanta Hawks versatile forward DeAndre Hunter on Feb. 6. The 6-foot-8 Hunter is considered one of the best ‘3-and-D’ players in the NBA due to his excellent three-point shooting, defense, size and athleticism. He was averaging a career-high 19 ppg in 37 games with Atlanta before the trade. Hunter is averaging 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 threes per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 48.5 percent from long distance in 14 games with Cleveland. Hunter’s addition could be the catalyst for Cleveland winning a title this season.

GAME STORYLINES: L.A. CLIPPERS

When the Los Angeles Clippers signed the superstar duo of Kawhi Leonard — who was fresh off of leading the Toronto Raptors to its first NBA title — and Paul George as free agents in July 2019, it was expected that a tremendous amount of success would ensue. Instead, what resulted was five seasons of injuries — mainly for Kawhi Leonard — that led to frustrating regular seasons and limited playoff success. 

In five years as teammates, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George only played an entire postseason together once, and that was in 2020 when the season was interrupted for four months due to COVID-19. The Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era officially came to an end prior to this season when the Clippers let Paul George walk as a free agent. George signed a four-year, $212 million max deal with Philadelphia. The Clippers did re-sign former perennial All-Star James Harden to a two-year, $70 million extension prior to the season.

With Paul George gone, Kawhi Leonard’s injury status unknown and 35-year-old James Harden being the de facto franchise player, the Los Angeles Clippers entered the 2024-25 season with modest expectations. But the Clippers have ended up being one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season as Harden is back to playing at an All-NBA level and Norman Powell emerging as an All-Star level player. 

The duo of Norman Powell (career-high 23.4 pts, 3.4 rebs, 1.3 stls, 3.2 threes, 49% from 2, 42.2% from 3) and James Harden (22.5 pts, 8.7 asts, 5.9 rebs, 1.5 stls, 3 threes) have been outstanding this season and are largely responsible for Clippers somewhat surprising success. At 38-30, the Clippers currently occupy 8th place in the loaded Western Conference and are one game behind Golden State and Minnesota for 6th place. Powell and Harden have combined to put up almost identical ppg production (45.9) as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did last season (46.3). 

NBA Picks 3/18 – Cleveland Cavs @ LA Clippers

Kawhi Leonard remains the Clippers wild card for yet another season. He made his season debut on Jan. 4 at home against Atlanta after missing the first 34 games of the year. He’s averaging 19 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 threes while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor across 25 games. Leonard has remained healthy since his return and is averaging 23.1 ppg, 6 rpg and 2.1 spg since the All-Star break. If he can stay healthy for the playoffs and continue to resemble the All-NBA performer he used to be, the Clippers could be a very dangerous team in the postseason. 

THE PICK: CLIPPERS (+4.5)

Cleveland has been the best team in the NBA for the entire season and are on pace to finish with one of the better regular season records in NBA history but I think they are ripe for an upset here. This is the first game of a West Coast road trip for the Cavs and they are facing a Clipper team who is playing their best ball of the season. Take the Points and the Clippers!

NBA Picks 3/18 – Cleveland Cavs @ LA Clippers