The Cavs are trending in the wrong direction, and the Clippers are catching plenty of points in Cleveland. Look for James Harden and L.A. to stay within striking distance, per our NBA betting picks.
Photo By – Imagn Images. James Harden in NBA action.
The Los Angeles Clippers will look to continue fighting for a Top 6 playoff spot in the Western Conference on Sunday as they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland is going through perhaps its worst stretch of what has been an excellent season, and I like Los Angeles to cover this afternoon in my Clippers vs. Cavaliers predictions.
Let’s break down this matchup and find the best spots for bettors in my free NBA picks for Sunday, March 30.
Clippers vs Cavaliers prediction
My best bet: Clippers +7.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the best stories in the NBA this season, but they haven’t been quite the same team over the last couple weeks. Cleveland is just 3-5 in its last eight games overall and has covered in only two of those games, a stretch that is shocking considering it only had 10 losses in its first 66 contests.
While the Cavaliers continue to be one of the best offensive teams in the league, leading the NBA in both points per game (122.3) and offensive rating (121.5), they’ve been let down by their defense, which is allowing 117.1 ppg over the last eight games.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has singled out an issue with defensive rebounding, with the Detroit Pistons grabbing 16 against Cleveland on Friday. This has been something of an issue all season, with the Cavaliers ranking 22nd in defensive rebounding percentage at 69.8%.
The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, have been playing some of their best basketball as of late. Los Angeles is 7-1 in its last eight games both SU and ATS, and has won four straight on the road. That success has allowed the Clippers to climb into a tie for the sixth seed in the Western Conference, putting them on the verge of avoiding the play-in tournament entirely.
The one concern for Los Angeles today is the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who is sitting out the first half of a back-to-back in order to manage a knee injury. But we’ve seen the Clippers play well even without Leonard, going 23-20 in the many games he has missed this season. James Harden (22.5 ppg) has been more than capable of picking up the slack on the offensive end, with Norman Powell (22.4 ppg) and Ivica Zubac (16.5 ppg) also likely to take on larger roles.
This looks like a tough match for the Cavaliers, who already lost to the Clippers in Los Angeles by 13 points less than two weeks ago. I’m expecting the Clippers to continue their recent run of strong play, and I’m taking them to cover today.
Clippers vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Clippers +7.5
Over 229.5
James Harden Over 24.5 points
My same-game parlay for today will use the Clippers to cover as its centerpiece, but I’ve also found two other bets I like to pair with that prediction.
I’m also going to take the Over, as both teams have recently shown a tendency towards high-scoring games. The Clippers have hit the Over in four of their last five games, while the Cavaliers have hit the Over in six of their last seven, and are generally one of the higher-scoring teams in the NBA.
Given all the points I’m expecting, it’s natural to also include an Over on a scoring prop in our SGP. I’m picking Harden to score at least 25 points.
Harden is averaging 25.7 ppg in March and will get more usage on Sunday with Leonard out of the lineup. He’s already hit this total in eight of his last 12 games, and should get enough shots up to easily hit the Over.
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Clippers vs Cavaliers odds
Clippers vs Cavaliers live odds
Clippers vs Cavaliers opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles +7 | Cleveland -7
- Moneyline: Los Angeles +230 | Cleveland -272
- Over/Under: Over 231 | Under 231
Odds courtesy of bet365
Clippers vs Cavaliers spread and Over/Under analysis
- Both teams have done well for bettors this year, with the Cavaliers going 44-29-1 against the spread and the Clippers posting a 40-32-1 ATS record.
- Los Angeles won the only previous meeting between these teams this season, covering as a 2.5-point favorite in a 132-119 victory.
- The Under has a 38-35 record when the Clippers have played this season, with the Over holding a 48-26 advantage in Cavaliers games.
- Cleveland is playing to an average total of 234.5 ppg, while Los Angeles comes in averaging a total of 220.6 ppg.
Clippers vs Cavaliers trend
The Cavaliers are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Clippers vs Cavaliers
| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Sunday, 3-30-2025 |
| Tip-off | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN |
Clippers vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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