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Los Angeles Lakers: Betting picks and preview vs. Thunder

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second leg of a road back-to-back.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won three games straight, which include consecutive blowout wins over the Houston Rockets in Houston. These blowout wins essentially destroyed the Rockets, as James Harden made some interesting comments in his post-game presser that has led the Rockets to actively explore a trade as soon as today.

Heck, by the time you are reading this the deal might already be done.

The Lakers are moving on as they have a road back-to-back, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. The Thunder are also on a back-to-back as they hosted the San Antonio Spurs (and lost) on Tuesday.

The Lakers are far more talented than the Thunder but they are also down some players. Wesley Matthews has been ruled out for this game while Anthony Davis has been listed as questionable. With it being the second leg of a road back-to-back, Frank Vogel is likely going to be cautious with his playing time even if he does play.

This reflects in the betting line. When I recorded the Lake Show Life Podcast last night the line opened at Lakers -9.5. Now, according to the BetMGM odds on the Action Network, the line has moved all the way to Lakers -7.5.

For the sake of my own record, I am going to make Los Angeles Lakers -7.5 the actual line that I am taking, but I am still taking the Lakers. I also said I would take the under on any point total 215 or higher, so I am taking under 219.

You can hear all of my reasoning below.

Along with the betting picks I also pick my purple and gold players for the Thunder game. The purple player is a non-superstar on the Lakers’ opponent that the Lakers have to focus on to win the game. The gold player is a player non-star on the Lakers that I think will have a big game.

The purple player in this game is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He is their best player, but he is not considered a star yet. I give my reasoning on the podcast in why the Lakers need to focus on him (albeit it is pretty obvious).

As far as the gold player, I see Kentavious Caldwell-Pope having a big game. This is even more true now that Matthews is out but I expect KCP to have a bigger role against the Thunder and I expect him to hit a few big threes as well.

Next. 3 most underappreciated Lakers. dark

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