Not a fun NBA weekend with some bad luck. I don't think the Lakers win in Cleveland on Saturday if Darius Garland doesn't get hurt, and then the Knicks somehow let Devin Booker -- when Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are out -- get an open three-point look in the final seconds on Sunday to lose. Aggravating, holmes! That this is down to -190 tells me LeBron James is likely to play, but the Lakers are quite thin with Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Cam Reddish out. LeBron ain't playing 40 minutes and maybe we get lucky and he actually does sit this one out. James has to play 9 minutes to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most career minutes.

De'Anthony Melton has gotten more minutes and shots since Kelly Oubre has been sidelined. He's averaged 32.9 minutes and 11.3 shots in those eight games, clearing this points total six times. The Lakers offer a good matchup for Melton. Look for him to score at least 14 points in this nationally televised showdown.