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Lakers: LeBron James’ point total is free money in Game 5

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on May 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on May 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers enter a crucial Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns desperately needing a win without Anthony Davis. Winning Game 5 gives the team the luxury of not having to rush Anthony Davis back if they do not have to. Losing Game 5 puts them on the brink of elimination.

This series seemed like a wrap after three games and if the Lakers were still healthy then it would still be really easy to love them in this matchup. Instead, they have to win a best two-out-of-three without Anthony Davis or one of the games (and potentially more).

LeBron James is going to have to turn in a vintage performance for the Los Angeles Lakers and he is definitely ready for the task. While he will definitely need help from the role players in LA, he is the engine of this team and cannot afford to take certain parts of the game off as he has been thus far in the playoffs.

LeBron is averaging just 21.8 points per game in the playoffs thus far, which is by far the lowest in his career in the playoffs. Expect that number to regress back towards the mean after Game 5 as LeBron looks to carry the team to victory.

You can make some money off of LeBron James carrying the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Playoffs.

Despite being the only healthy superstar on the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James’ point total is the lowest it has been for the entire series. WynnBET places his point total at 27.5 points with -110 odds on either side of the total.

This is free money. I wrote back in the play-in game about LeBron James recording a triple-double and how that was free money as well. I feel the exact same way about this line. The over on this bet is simply too easy.

Sure, LeBron’s scoring has been down this series but that is by design. Anyone that has watched the games can see that LeBron is reserving his energy and then looks to take the game over late. He is not going to have the luxury to do that in this game. He is going to have to score.

The one thing that could hurt the over is if he is having a bad shooting night. Since LeBron has to score, with the high ankle sprain in the rear-view mirror and his age, chances are he is going to take a good number of threes. If he is shooting bricks all night then 28 points is a hard number to get to.

If he makes four or more threes then 28 points is essentially a lock.

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If the Los Angeles Lakers are even going to be competitive in this game then LeBron is going to have to score 30. And while he might be up there in age, I feel great about betting on a guy to score 28 points in a must-win playoff game when his career average in the playoffs is 28.7 points.