The Los Angeles Lakers are riding a three-game losing streak and things have not been looking pretty. While the Lakers have dealt with various COVID-19 problems and have been without Anthony Davis, the team still has to be playing better than it is.
In fact, compared to the rest of the league, the Lakers’ missed games due to COVID-19 were not as bad. The team should still be competitive with two former MVPs in LeBron James and Russell Westbrook and they just aren’t. It has been the story of the season for LA.
The Lakers are back to .500 with a 16-16 record and take on the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The Spurs are a team that the Lakers should beat but as we have seen thus far this season, the purple and gold do not always beat teams that they should beat.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Spurs odds, spread, over/under:
The Los Angeles Lakers are actually favorites in this game as they are 1.5-point favorites over the Spurs. While it is nice to see the team as a favorite, the fact that they are such a small favorite over the Spurs is a reality check about the team.
The Lakers are a -125 moneyline favorite while the Spurs are just a +105 moneyline underdog. The over/under for the game has been placed at 225.5 points, which is quite the total.
For what it is worth, the Spurs are coming off of a blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers in which they defeated them by 24 points. That is certainly making an impact on the spread.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Spurs prediction:
The Lakers have been a very easy team to pick against this season and I did just that in the team’s last game against the Phoenix Suns and what do you know, that game never even felt close. Even with the Lakers entering halftime with a two-point deficit it felt like it was only a matter of time until the wheels started to fall off.
And that is exactly what happened.
The Spurs are not a team of the Suns’ caliber, though, and as inconsistent as the Lakers have been I have to go with them in this game. LeBron James is so much better than any player on the Spurs and with a tough game against Brooklyn coming up, the Lakers know they have to win.
It is still concerning with how this team has played this season and the fact that the coaching has gotten worse with David Fizdale calling the shots. At the end of the day, though, the Lakers win half of their games and this should be one of those wins.
I am taking Lakers -1.5 and under 225.5 with a final score of Lakers 106, Spurs 100.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Spurs TV channel:
This is not a nationally televised game and local fans can watch it on Spectrum SportsNet. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers schedule and upcoming games:
The Lakers have Christmas Eve off before taking on the Brooklyn Nets as part of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate in the first game that will officially be in the Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers get two days off after playing on Christmas and have a road back-to-back that starts with the Houston Rockets on Tuesday and ends with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Lakers then have a five-game homestand that carries them into 2022.