Cleveland Cavaliers vs. LA Lakers Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Chart for Dec. 31 | 2024-25 NBA season

The Cleveland Cavaliers will make the second stop of their West road trip in Los Angeles to take on the LA Lakers on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers have won each of their first two games of the road trip, topping the Denver Nuggets on Friday and the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The LA Lakers will make history during the matchup, as LeBron James becomes the 32nd player in NBA history to suit up in a game after turning 40 years old. James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday and will take on his former team in his first game back.

LA has won each of their last two games, coming off a high-scoring 132-122 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Injuries could play a huge factor for the Lakers on Tuesday, as the team enters the matchup with five players on its injury report.

Cleveland took home the win in their first meeting of the season, topping the Lakers 134-110 behind a 25-point performance from Evan Mobley and a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double from Jarrett Allen.

Here are the projected starting lineups and depth charts for each team ahead of Tuesday's matchup.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. LA Lakers: Injury Report

Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report

The Cavaliers have just two players listed on their injury report for Tuesday's contest.

Isaac Okoro has been ruled out with a right shoulder sprain and is expected to return after the first of the year. Two-way player Luke Travers has also been ruled out of Tuesday's matchup.

LA Lakers Injury Report

The Lakers have five players listed on their injury report for their matchup versus Cleveland.

Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are each listed as game-time decisions entering the matchup but are expected to suit up versus the Cavaliers. James is questionable with an illness, while Davis is questionable with an ankle sprain. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jalen Hood-Schifino have each been ruled out of the matchup.

Vanderbilt is continuing his rehabilitation process from multiple off-season foot surgeries and has begun practicing with the team as he eyes a return. Hood-Schifino has been ruled out due to a Hamstring injury. LA's Gabe Vincent has also been listed as questionable with an oblique injury.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. LA Lakers: Projected starting lineups and depth charts

Cleveland Cavaliers Depth Chart

Starter	2nd	3rd
Darius Garland	Caris LeVert	Ty Jerome
Donovan Mitchell	Sam Merrill
Max Strus	Dean Wade	Jaylon Tyson
Evan Mobley	Georges Niang
Jarrett Allen	Tristan Thompson

LA Lakers Depth Chart

Starter	2nd	3rd
Austin Reaves	Shake Milton	Quincy Olivari
Max Christie	Dalton Knecht
Rui Hachimura	Cam Reddish	Max Christie
Lebron James	Dorian Finney-Smith
Anthony Davis	Jaxson Hayes	Christian Koloko

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. LA Lakers: Key matchups

LeBron James vs. Evan Mobley

With Cleveland's best on-ball defender, Isaac Okoro, sidelined, Evan Mobley will likely draw the assignment of LeBron James. Mobley is in the midst of a breakout campaign this season and will prepare for one of his toughest covers of the season in the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Anthony Davis vs. Jarrett Allen

Anthony Davis and Jarrett Allen will compete to control the glass in the post. Davis and Allen are two of the best paint defenders in the NBA and present tough defensive matchups for one another. Davis presents one of the most difficult covers of any big man in the NBA. Allen will have his hands full with LA's leading scorer.