The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a battle of two of the better teams in the NBA. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Lakers-76ers prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have plenty to play for here. The Lakers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the entire league, as their 24-24 record has them as the ninth seed in the Western Conference. For a team loaded with talent, a record that poor is nothing less than an embarrassment. The 76ers have been significantly better, earning a 28-19 record and the sixth seed in the East. This is a chance for both teams to prove that they belong in the postseason, so it should be an entertaining one.
Here are the Lakers-76ers NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Lakers-76ers Odds
Los Angeles Lakers: +4.5 (-108)
Philadelphia 76ers: -4.5 (-112)
Over: 217 (-110)
Under: 217 (-110)
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Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
For all their success this season, the Sixers aren't a particularly good offensive team. They only average 107 points per game while shooting 35% from three-point range and 52% from inside the arc. Both of those shooting numbers are slightly above average, but they aren't anything to write home about. The Lakers have held their opponents to a 45% shooting percentage on the year, so this is a fairly decent matchup for a Los Angeles defense that has been up-and-down.
The 76ers will be playing this game without some key parts of their team. Starting shooting guard Seth Curry has already been ruled out for Thursday's game along with point guard Shake Milton. Both of these players play huge minutes for Philadelphia, so the bench will have to play a huge role in this game. Backups Furkan Korkmaz and Isaiah Joe will be forced into much bigger roles here, which should benefit the Lakers.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
While the Sixers haven't been great on offense, the same can't be said about their defense. Philadelphia only gives up 105 points per game on 45% shooting from the field, two of the best numbers in the league. The 76ers also give up one of the lowest shooting efficiency numbers in the NBA. To make matters even better, the Lakers are one of the most inconsistent offenses in the entire league. This is a great matchup for the Philadelphia defense.
The Sixers have managed to maintain a solid record against the spread to go along with their regular-season success. Philadelphia is 24-23 ATS on the year, one of the better records against the spread across the NBA. The Lakers, on the other hand, have been one of the worst teams in all of basketball when it comes to covering the spread. Los Angeles is 20-28 ATS, and 10-11 when they play on the road. This looks like another good spot to take the Sixers, despite the injuries they're dealing with.
Final Lakers-76ers Prediction & Pick
The 76ers should cover here, but they aren't the best pick on the board. The under should cash easily in this game. Both teams will play well on defense here, and the Sixers will struggle to score without two of their best shooters in this game.
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Final Lakers-76ers Prediction & Pick: Under: 217 (-110)
