All the Lakers' expert predictions for LeBron James' first return to Cleveland this year

After a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers look to regain momentum against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio.

The Cavaliers will be a tough team to beat as they are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since LeBron James played for them. This is thanks in large part to the outstanding play of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 23.8 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals this season.

“We figure things out as we go and it won’t always be perfect, but we keep pushing,” Mitchell said, according to Field Level Media. “…And that's what I love about this group. We just kept pushing and fighting.”

Another key factor for the Cavaliers is center Jarrett Allen, who is averaging 17.3 points, 9.5 total rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

Needless to say, the Cavs are proving to be a dominant team, winning their four games by an average margin of 16.8 points.

Unfortunately, the Lakers suffered a loss against the Suns, where star forward LeBron James had a difficult outing against the Suns, making three of 14 field goals and two of five three-pointers for 11 points.

However, James comes alive whenever he plays in Cleveland, where he is 9-2 against the Cavaliers. And he is more than ready for the challenge.

“We know what they’ve accomplished over the last few years,” James said. “It's as if they were able to build on last year and have gotten better and better. They have a great starting XI. We have to be prepared for an intense, close game.”

The good news is that Los Angeles has plenty of weapons, including star center Anthony Davis, who currently leads the league with an average of 32.8 points per game. He has also recorded a total of 12 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

Another important factor for the Lakers is shooting guard Austin Reaves, who was made available to play tonight. So far this season, Reaves is averaging 19.3 points, seven total rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Expert forecasts

Jeremy Hanna: The Cavaliers are currently favorites to win. That being said, the Lakers have something to prove. So don't be surprised if they get a narrow win tonight.

Lakers 120, Cavs 115

Ricardo Sandoval: LeBron James is virtually unbeatable against his old team, and I expect that trend to continue on Wednesday night. The Lakers don't want to lose two games in a row this season, and I don't expect that to happen tonight.

Lakers 117, Cavs 111

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