Lakers vs. Cavaliers Preview and Game Thread: The perfect test on New Years Eve

The Lakers will host the current best team in the league in the Cavaliers on New Year's Eve.

The Lakers will look to avenge their loss early this season to the Cleveland Cavaliers when they face them at home on Tuesday. L.A. is looking to snap Cleveland’s six-game winning streak and build their own as they continue their current home stretch of games.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

When: 6 p.m. PT, Dec 31

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers made headlines over the weekend, but not because of their winning. The purple and gold finally made a trade by acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three-second round picks.

I’m sure I speak on behalf of Lakers fans when I say that I’m eager and curious to see these two new faces suit up as soon as possible, which could come as soon as Tuesday. But while we wait for that to happen, the focus must shift to Tuesday’s playdate against the Cavs, who also happen to be the best team in the NBA with a 27-4 record.

This game also happens to be on the day after LeBron James’ 40th birthday and I don’t think I have to further expound on why this then turns it into a more exciting and poetic match.

Tuesday’s game against the Cavs — who will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back — is also the perfect test to see how much the Lakers have progressed since they lost to them back in October.

Remember, that meeting happened when the Lakers were still figuring out their rotations and were in the middle of their first road trip of the season. For context on how different the Lakers are now: Max Christie — who has started in the Lakers’ last eight games — was buried on the bench during that stretch. D’Lo was still the team’s starting point guard as well.

This time around, the Cavs are stumbling upon a Lakers team that’s arguably playing their best basketball of the season on both ends of the court and has won five out of their last six games. Suffice it to say we’re in for a thrilling affair between two teams on the rise. That said, here are two storylines worth taking note of ahead of tomorrow’s game:

How will the Lakers game plan against the Cavs’ bigs?

Perhaps the biggest reason why the Lakers lost against the Cavs in their first meeting was that the presence of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — who combined for 45 points and 22 rebounds — was too much for them to handle. Anthony Davis was limited to just 22 points on 9-17 shooting and it didn’t help that nobody except Dalton Knecht. who scored most of his 18 points during garbage time, had it going that night.

The Cavaliers’ frontcourt is a problem for most teams in the league and how the Lakers game plan against it will dictate the result of Tuesday’s game. It will be interesting to see if JJ Redick utilizes more big-centric lineups or stays with his usual rotation. The purple and gold have to ensure that Allen and Mobley don’t feast in the paint again.

Will the Lakers’ surging defense keep up?

Since moving Christie to the starting unit, the Lakers’ defense has improved compared to last October when they ranked at the bottom of the league. While now being considered the 21st-best defense still isn’t convincing, it’s nevertheless an optimistic sign that the team is trending in the right direction — especially since the addition of DFS is also expected to boost the team’s performance in this department.

On Tuesday, the same Lakers’s defense will be tested by the Cavs’ lethal offense, which also happens to be the league’s best. Led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Cleveland averages 122.7 points a game. Los Angeles needs to find a way to prevent the visiting team from scoring as many points as they recently did to the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. The Lakers’ wing and guard depth will also be heavily relied on to contain Cleveland’s versatile offense.

Hopefully, the role players such as Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Christie, and co. can carry over their superb performances as of late to keep up with the Cavs. Beating the current best team in the league would be the perfect way to spend New Year's Eve. Let’s see if the Lakers can do that on Tuesday evening. Happy New Year, everyone!

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Anthony Davis (left ankle sprain), LeBron James (left foot injury management) and Gabe Vincent (left oblique strain) are questionable.
• As expected, Jalen Hood-Schifino (left hamstring strain), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are all out.
• Since they’re playing on the second night of a back-to-back in this one, the Cavs’ injury won’t be updated till a few hours before tipoff. But expect Isaac Okoro (right shoulder sprain) to sit this one out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.