Cleveland has the longest current win streak in the NBA with 11 consecutive victories, the latest coming in a 97-84 win over the Sixers. They'll try to keep things going against the Clippers, who have lost two of their last three games, including a 102-100 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
The Cavs won the first matchup of the year between these two sides on January 16 in a wild 126-121 game that went down to the last minute.
Projected Starting Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers (30-20)
G Kyrie Irving – 21.9 ppg, 5.2 apg
G J.R. Smith – 13.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg
F LeBron James – 26.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.4 apg
F Kevin Love – 16.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg
C Timofey Mozgov– 9.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg
Los Angeles Clippers (33-16)
G Chris Paul –17.7 ppg, 9.6 apg
G J.J. Redick – 14.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
F Matt Barnes – 9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg
F Blake Griffin – 22.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5.1 apg
C DeAndre Jordan – 10.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg
What to watch for:
Can Chris Paul slow down Kyrie Irving?
Irving's recent hot stretch - one that included a 55-point game - really started against the Clippers, when he dropped 37 points. It was one of the best games he's played all season on both sides of the ball, as he also held Chris Paul to just 4/15 shooting. Paul is going to want to get some revenge on Irving, and whoever wins this matchup will give their team a major advantage.
Who can control the paint?
Kevin Love didn't play in their last meeting because of back spasms, but Tristan Thompson was able to help neutralize Los Angeles' outstanding big men with physical play and 12 rebounds. If Kevin Love has a similar effect and can give Cleveland an advantage on the boards, they'll win this game.
Prediction: Clippers win 118-115
The Cavs and Clippers provided us with one of the more exciting games of the season over the weekend, and this one should be equally entertaining. It’s a toss up in a game between teams this evenly matched, and since the Cavs got the breaks in the last one, I think the Clippers will find a way to win this one.
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