<p>The Clippers' remarkable turnaround faces a test against the Cavaliers, who took the November meeting convincingly.</p> <p>Kawhi Leonard has scored 20 or more points in 25 consecutive games - only Bob McAdoo, World B. Free and Blake Griffin have matched that feat in Clippers franchise history.</p> <p>That streak, combined with a 16-3 record since Christmas, has transformed LA from Western Conference laughingstock into a genuine playoff contender. Cleveland arrives having won the November meeting 120-105, but these are very different Clippers.</p> <p>Before we get to our full preview, here are the key details:</p> <ul> <li>Competition: NBA Regular Season</li> <li>Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California</li> <li>Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026</li> <li>Start Time: 2:30 PM AEDT (Thursday, February 5)</li> </ul> <h2>LA Clippers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Form and Head to Head</h2> <p>The Clippers' season has been a tale of two halves. A catastrophic 2-13 November - the worst month in franchise history - had them 14th in the West. Then Leonard found his rhythm, and everything changed.</p> <p>LA has won 16 of its last 19 games and sits 9-1 in its past 10, climbing to 10th in the conference with genuine Play-In momentum. Leonard's averaging 31.1 points since December 20 on 50.6% shooting, while James Harden continues to orchestrate the offence with 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game.</p> <p>Cleveland's season has been the inverse - regression from last year's league-best 64-18 record to a middling 29-20. The Cavaliers won the November meeting 120-105 at home, with Donovan Mitchell pouring in 37 points against a Leonard still working back from injury.</p> <p>But Cleveland has been inconsistent since, losing to Utah and Minnesota in January before bouncing back with wins over Orlando and the Lakers. Mitchell remains brilliant (29.4 PPG on career-best efficiency), but the supporting cast has been less reliable. The all-time series favours Cleveland 79-61, though recent meetings have been split 3-3.</p> <h2>LA Clippers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Team News</h2> <p>The Clippers are without Bradley Beal (season-ending hip surgery), Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring). Leonard is healthy after managing a knee contusion in mid-January, playing 28 minutes in Tuesday's win over Utah and showing no limitations. Ivica Zubac has returned from an ankle issue and provides the interior presence LA needs.</p> <p>Cleveland's concerns centre on Darius Garland, who left the January 16 game against Philadelphia with a foot injury. Larry Nance Jr. (calf) and Max Strus (foot) remain sidelined. Mitchell is fully healthy and has scored 25-plus in four straight games, while Evan Mobley continues anchoring the defence.</p> <h2>LA Clippers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Markets</h2> <p>The match result market shapes as intriguing given the Clippers' home-court advantage at Intuit Dome, where "The Wall" has held opponents to 74.8% from the foul line - second-lowest in the NBA. The spread market reflects LA's recent dominance, though Cleveland's November win will give punters pause.</p> <p>Player props look attractive, particularly around Leonard's scoring (25-game streak of 20+ points) and Mitchell's output (averaging 29.5 PPG). If you're new to basketball wagering, our guide on <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-the-nba">how to bet on the NBA</a> covers the key markets.</p> <p>The total points market could trend lower given both teams have tightened defensively during their recent hot stretches - Cleveland posted the league's best defensive rating over a five-game span in early January. Check the current odds at Sportsbet for the latest prices across all markets.</p> <h2>LA Clippers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction: Our Pick</h2> <p><strong>Clippers to win (check out the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-us/nba">NBA betting odds</a> here)</strong></p> <p>The November meeting feels like ancient history given LA's transformation. That night, Leonard was playing his first game back from a 10-game absence and managed just 20 points on limited minutes.</p> <p>He's now averaging 31.8 points since December 20, shooting 50.6% from the field and a scorching 43.1% from deep during that stretch. The Clippers have the NBA's best record since Christmas (16-3) and are 14-2 with Leonard healthy over their last 16 games.</p> <p>Cleveland's form has been patchy - losses to Utah and Minnesota in January, concerns over Garland's foot, and a supporting cast that hasn't matched last season's production.</p> <p>Mitchell will get his points, but the Clippers' defensive improvement during this streak (105.6 defensive rating) should limit Cleveland's secondary options.</p> <p>Intuit Dome's unique atmosphere adds another layer, with opponents shooting just 33.5% from three against "The Wall" this season. The risk is Cleveland's size advantage with Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but LA's momentum and Leonard's current form make them the play at home.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/tips">Our latest NBA tips and predictions for this week's action</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/nba-plus-minus-explained">The plus-minus stat and what it actually tells us about player impact</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/most-triple-doubles-in-nba">The players chasing history on the all-time triple-double leaderboard</a></li> </ul>