Los Angeles Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/14/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Where to watch: Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Southern California

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Clippers: 36-34

Cavaliers: 38-29

It's tough to gauge where the Los Angeles Clippers are at right now, considering they go from a five-game winning streak to falling flat and losing three of their last four.

So I'm not entirely sure where the group is right now, but the Clippers are a tad on the ropes here with the No. 8 seed tacked on in the Western Conference playoff picture.  The Clippers are coming off a 112-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night in which Ivica Zubac and Reggie Jackson had 24 points each, and the Clippers shot nearly 50 percent from the floor.

Marcus Morris Sr. left after playing only 24 minutes before being ejected because the referee thought he traveled when he really didn't. Such things are not meant to be explained, like actual referee knowledge.

"The officiating tonight, we didn't get a good whistle," said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. "... Marcus got a little frustrated with that. ... That kind of hurt us."

It's nearly a shame that the Clippers haven't been able to capitalize off the 132-111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though that's not the most surprising thing in the world, one would like for that group to actually string some wins together. They did with five in a row prior to this, but if this team wants to make the playoffs and hope for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can return for such a run, things need to bounce in the proper direction for this to happen.

I don't want to completely derail any momentum the Clippers have put together but at the very least, they need to start getting some wins together if they want to make this last-ditch effort memorable. I wouldn't put it past anyone to not see it happen, though.

And the reason why I wouldn't expect anything less from the Clippers is they still have to play teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to make the playoffs. Because the Cavaliers are trying their damnedest to keep that top-six seed in the Eastern Conference despite a number of key players out due to injury right now.

The Cavs are feeling the effects of that right now having lost two straight and three of five heading into this matchup. The Cavs are returning home after playing three straight on the road but are coming off a 101-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Darius Garland led the way with 25 points in 42 minutes, but shot just 9 of 24 to reach that mark. Evan Mobley continued his Rookie of the Year campaign with 17 points and seven rebounds while the Cavs as a group shot 42 percent from the floor.

"I just felt like they were the aggressor tonight," said Cavs forward Kevin Love, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds. "You've got to tip your hat to the Bulls. Great all season. Obviously, Miami and Chicago back to back is not easy. I think you saw it in our energy level tonight, us just trying to find and manufacture some offense."

The Cavs have not been in the right mindset as of late, but it has hurt to not have Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert in the lineup. Especially LeVert, who was brought in as a major piece via trade to help the offense and take the load off Garland. Allen's absence moves everyone in the frontcourt up a spot, so it's not like that's too big of an adjustment, but still one to where it makes a difference. This team is 10 times better when Mobley is playing power forward next to Allen.

Even though it's been a rough go for the Cavs as of late, I like the way they're at right now and I feel much more comfortable picking the better team while at home on this day. The frontcourt battle is going to be entertaining with Mobley going against Zubac, and I feel that the younger Mobley -- who has the ability to stretch the floor -- will make things interesting in this matchup. Give me Cleveland. Cavs by 12

The Clippers are 22-12 ATS as a road underdog the past three seasons.

The Clippers are 18-16 ATS on the road this season.

The Cavs are 7-15 ATS the past three seasons as a home favorite of six points or less.

The Cavs are 7-1 ATS this season after losing five or six of their last seven.

PG: Reggie Jackson

SG: Amir Coffey

SF: Marcus Morris Sr. 

PF: Nicolas Batum

C: Ivica Zubac

PG: Darius Garland

SG: Isaac Okoro

SF: Lauri Markkanen

PF: Dean Wade

C: Evan Mobley

Points: Reggie Jackson -- 17.1

Rebounds: Ivica Zubac -- 8.3

Assists: Reggie Jackson -- 4.8

Points: Darius Garland -- 21.1

Rebounds: Jarrett Allen -- 10.8

Assists: Darius Garland -- 8.2