The Los Angeles Lakers have played in back-to-back overtime games as the Oklahoma City Thunder came into the Staples Center on Monday and took an Anthony Davis-less Lakers team to OT.
It appeared as if overtime would not be needed at the end of regulation. There was a jump ball at halfcourt with little time remaining. The Thunder won the jump ball, sprinted down the court and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope fouled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a three-point attempt.
It certainly was not a great attempt from SGA and it was a terrible foul from KCP. It was even worse for those that had money on the game going under 219.5 points (that was me, I am the one that had money on under 219.5).
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Another game means more betting picks as part of our running series on the Lake Show Life Podcast. Our recent episode covered both games, although it only covered the betting picks for one game as the lines for this game were not yet available.
I went 1-1 in the last game. I missed on the under but I actually had the Thunder covering the 10.5-point spread. I had the Lakers winning by seven, which is what they won by. My record on the season is now 24-20.
According to the Bet MGM lines on the Action Network, the Lakers enter this game as 11.5-point favorites with a point total set at 216.5. It may seem strange that the Lakers are this favored after an overtime game, but SGA is out with a sore knee and Theo Maledon is out as part of the league’s health and safety protocols.
Betting picks for Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder:
- Los Angeles Lakers -11.5, under 216.5 (Final score: Los Angeles Lakers 110, Oklahoma City Thunder 97)
This is going to be a blowout. Yes, the Thunder just played a tightly contested game against the Lakers and took them to overtime but there are two things that are going to kill them in this game: the potential return of Anthony Davis and SGA being out.
SGA is their best player and they do not have the horses to replace his scoring output. The Thunder are going to lose 15-20 points that they simply cannot make up.
Davis playing (he is currently questionable) will take away Al Horford. Horford had a decent game against the Lakers on Monday and he simply will not get the same looks with AD guarding him.
There is always the threat of a backdoor cover in garbage time but the Lakers are so deep and the Thunder aren’t, so that is highly unlikely in this game. Lakers will cover in blowout fashion. They are due.