Nets vs. Lakers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Thursday's Video Best Bet

Feb. 18, 2021

by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

Non-Conference NBA action will take center-stage during Thursday’s nightcap with the Los Angeles Lakers set to host the Brooklyn Nets on TNT, and VI is getting you ready with another slate of Best Bets and Game Previews to help handicap all the evening’s top matchups.

Nets vs. Lakers Betting Resources

• Matchup: Non-Conference
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: Staples Center
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021
• Time: 10:05 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT
• Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Nets vs. Lakers

Line Movements

Subject to Change

• Spread: L.A. Lakers -2.5
• Money-Line: L.A. Lakers -135 Brooklyn +115
• Total: 237.5

The Lakers head into Thursday’s contest as short favorite over the visiting Nets, marking the 14th consecutive matchup that LeBron James and company have opened as the favorite in.

While the total for this matchup currently sits at OU 238.5 – which is just the second time this season that the ‘over-under’ for a Lakers game has been set above 230.

James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets are starting to cash tickets, winning and covering their last four games. (AP)

Nets vs. Lakers Current Form-Last Game

Although the Lakers have reigned victorious in eight of their last nine contests, they have only covered the spread in four of those wins – with three of those losses ATS coming in overtime matchups that L.A. was favored by 9 points or more in.

Los Angeles has managed to cover the number in two of their last three matchups though, with its only loss ATS across that span coming in a SU loss to the Nuggets, which happened to be the contest that Anthony Davis suffered his most recent injury in.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant both sat out during Brooklyn’s most recent affair with Phoenix, but the Nets still managed to mount a double-digit comeback behind 19 combined fourth quarter points from James Harden and Joe Harris to steal a third consecutive victory to kick off their current road trip.

Nets vs. Lakers Head-to-Head

• Mar. 10, 2020 - Nets 104 at Lakers 102, Brooklyn +12, Under 226
• Jan. 23, 2020 - Lakers 128 at Nets 113, Los Angeles -5.5, Over 231.5

Brooklyn and Los Angeles split a pair of games during last year’s regular season, with one matchup going 'over' the total points number for Thursday’s contest and the other staying 'under'.

The most recent affair between these teams came right before last year’s COVID-19 shutdown – which resulted in a slim victory for the Nets, as 25+ points apiece from James and Davis still wasn’t enough to hold off Brooklyn during the absence of Irving.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Brooklyn Nets Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 18-12 SU, 14-16 ATS, 22-8 OU
• Road: 7-7 SU, 6-8 ATS, 11-3 OU

In the most recent meeting between these teams, the Nets may have been able to pull off the upset victory over Los Angeles without Irving, Durant, or Harden on the floor.

But I am still hesitant to conclude that Brooklyn’s superstar additions have given them an edge over King James and this year’s Lakers team.

Brooklyn’s Big 3 has posted a combined record of 18-38 in regular season matchups against LeBron throughout the course of their careers (which includes non-postseason matchups that Durant participated in with Golden State).

The ‘over’ has now cashed in three straight Nets games, bringing that clip up to 22-8 on the year – which is easily the highest percentage mark in that category across the league.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 16-12 SU, 13-15 ATS, 17-10-1 OU
• Home: 9-4 SU, 5-8 ATS, 9-4 OU

Despite currently owning the second-best SU record in the NBA, the Lakers rank 16th in the league against the spread with a record of 14-15 against the number so far this year.

Davis exited the Lakers loss to the Nuggets back on Valentine’s Day and has failed to get out on the floor for Frank Vogel’s team since. King James seemed to pick up his counterpart’s slack rather effortlessly in a win over the Timberwolves this past Tuesday though – as LeBron racked up 30 points on 65% from the field in an 8-point victory.

Prior to L.A.’s most recent win over Minnesota, the 'over' had cashed in four straight Lakers games. In their first matchup following AD’s most recent injury though, the Lakers combined with the Wolves for just 216 total points to cash LA’s first ‘under’ since their first meeting with Denver back on February 4th.

Key Injuries

Brooklyn Nets

• PG Kyrie Irving: Back - Probable
• SF Kevin Durant: Hamstring - Out

Los Angeles Lakers

• PF Anthony Davis: Achilles - Out

Davis is expected to miss at least 2-3 weeks of action after suffering a calf injury during the Lakers loss to the Nuggets this past Sunday.

Look for Kyle Kuzma to extend his tenure in L.A.’s starting lineup for the duration of the All-Pro forward’s absence.

Durant is also expected to miss a third straight game with a hamstring injury, significantly expanding the roles of Bruce Brown, Tyler Johnson, and Jeff Green in Brooklyn’s rotation until further notice.

Player Prop Bet Prediction

LeBron James – Over 17.5 rebounds + assists (-108)

LeBron will yet again square off with his long-time Cavaliers’ teammate in Irving on Thursday night, and this time around Kyrie has a new partner in crime rounding out Brooklyn’s backcourt with Harden in town.

The Nets currently play at the 8th fastest pace in the NBA (101.7) and since they acquired Harden back in mid-January, they have averaged the most points per game (124) while jacking up nearly 40 long balls per matchup – which tends to create plenty of extra possessions for opposing teams.

I’ll back LeBron’s hustle-stats ‘over’ here as I believe AD’s absence should allow him to dominate LA’s offensive usage and cruise to triple-double territory in this contest.

Nets vs. Lakers Prediction

Since the acquisition of Harden back in January, the Nets have already demonstrated that they possess superior scoring ability compared to the rest of the teams in the league.

However, Brooklyn still hasn’t shown the ability to maintain a firm defensive game plan with all the moving parts in their new starting lineup – allowing a league worst, 121.8 points per game while allowing opposing teams to shoot 52.9% from inside the arc.

I expect LeBron and his supporting cast to effortlessly sift through a Nets defense ranking 26th in defensive rating, even during the absence of Davis. I’ll back the defending champs to cover here.

Score Prediction: Lakers 126, Nets 117
Best Bet: Los Angeles

VegasInsider Staff

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