The Brooklyn Nets host the Los Angeles Lakers in an elite interconference battle! It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Lakers-Nets prediction and pick.
The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling. It's as simple as that. Anthony Davis is close to returning to the team and is probable for Tuesday night's game against the Nets. LA needs him back more than ever and he should finally get this team back on track. They are 23-24 on the season and it's rare to see a LeBron James-led team with a losing record right before the All-Star break. LA is 8th in the Western Conference.
The Brooklyn Nets are 29-17 on the season and are 2nd in the East. The bad news is that they are starting to hit the headlines for the wrong reasons again. James Harden appears to be upset with his time in Brooklyn. He will be the only one of the big three suiting up against the Lakers as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving won't be playing. This should be an interesting game to witness either way.
Here are the Lakers-Nets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Lakers-Nets Odds
Los Angeles Lakers: -2.5 (-114)
Brooklyn Nets: +2.5 (-106)
Over: 227 (-110)
Under: 227 (-110)
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Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
LA should be in a great position to cover this spread if Davis does indeed play. He will likely be on a minutes restriction but if he isn't, then that is even better. Brooklyn will be without Irving, Durant, Joe Harris, and Nic Claxton. Those are four crucial players for the Nets so the Lakers need to take advantage of that. James and Davis need to both be on their game and they more than likely will. That should be enough to take down a Harden-led team without many options.
LA is just 19-28 against the spread, however. It's been a rough year of them but now is the time for them to really get going. Brooklyn won the first meeting 122-155 after Harden finished with 36 points. James ended with 39 for LA but it wasn't enough. With Davis back, he should be that added boost to get them past the Nets here. Russell Westbrook needs to get back on track as well as it's been a rough new year for him. Los Angeles is 8-12 on the road this season.
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Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread
The Nets are going to be in a tough position to cover this spread. They are being given two points at home here which seems to be the right call. It's going to be difficult to beat a fully healthy Lakers squad without two of the best players in the NBA. Both of these teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games but it's been the defense on both sides that has been the reason for the lack of success. Brooklyn is allowing 117 points per game while LA is allowing 114.4. That is not going to get it done at all and that is too many points to give up in a game. If the Nets want to cover this spread, they must defend well and not let their trio dominate them.
Brooklyn also isn't great against the spread this year going just 18-26-1. Even though they have been one of the more dominating teams in the league, they aren't winning games by as much as they should be. They are going to need LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills to step up big time because if they don’t, then they will be struggling to keep up. The Lakers are hungry and James is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Now is the time to really step up the defense or else it could hurt them in this game.
Final Lakers-Nets Prediction & Pick
It's not official but Davis is in line to return and I'm going to take the Lakers because of it. Even if he doesn't play very much or even at all, the Lakers are hungry and they know this is an important game to win. Take the Lakers and hope Harden doesn't go off for 50 to keep them in it.
Final Lakers-Nets Prediction & Pick: Lakers -2.5 (-114)
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