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Suns vs. Lakers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
May 27, 2021
by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

Western Conference postseason action will resume on Wednesday night with the Suns and Lakers set to square off for Game 3 at the Staples Center during the final matchup on TNT’s nationally televised slate.

So, VI is getting you ready with a variety of betting resources to help handicap all the evening’s top contests.

Suns vs. Lakers Betting Resources

Betting Odds - Suns vs. Lakers

Line Movements

Subject to Change

  • Spread: Lakers -7
  • Money-Line: L.A. -300, Phoenix +250
  • Total: 210.5

After winning Game 2 in Phoenix by seven points, the Lakers head into Thursday’s contest as a seven-point favorite over the visiting Suns – marking the first time Devin Booker and company have been listed as an underdog in consecutive matchups since squaring off with the Jazz and Clippers in back-to-back affairs in early-April.

The total for this event currently sits at OU 210.5, which is indicative of the scoring volume in the matchup that took place between Phoenix and L.A. on Tuesday night – considering 211 points were scored during the Lakers’ series-evening victory.


The Suns travel to Los Angeles on Thursday night looking to take a 2-1 series lead. (AP)

Suns vs. Lakers Current Form

After struggling for months due to the extended absences of superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers finally appeared to get healthy towards the end of the regular season – but still, several unanswered questions surrounded Los Angeles heading into the play-in tournament.

The Lakers put an end to those injury discussions during their tough play-in matchup against the Warriors though, as Los Angeles pulled off the one-possession victory behind some phenomenal defensive displays and a big-time triple-double from King James – securing the seventh seed in the conference and a first-round matchup against Phoenix.

On the flip side, Phoenix concluded its impressive regular-season campaign on a high note as well – with the Suns heading into their first-round series riding a 9-3 SU run that fell just one victory short of stealing the top seed from Utah during the final weeks before the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Phoenix though, that one-game differential ended up landing them a brutal first-round matchup against the defending champs – as opposed to the Jazz squaring off against a Memphis squad that hasn’t made the playoffs since Vince Carter was on the team.

Suns vs. Lakers Head-to-Head

  • May 25, 2021 - Lakers 109 at Suns 102, L.A. -2, Over 210.5
  • May 23, 2021 - Suns 99 vs. Lakers 90, Phoenix -2.5, Under 213.5
  • Mar. 21, 2021 - Suns 111 vs. Lakers 94, Phoenix -10, Under 217
  • Mar. 2, 2021 - Suns 114 at Lakers 104, Phoenix -1.5, Over 216

The Suns were victorious in two of three matchups against the Lakers during the regular season – with two of those contests cruising over the total at an average of 225.5 points per game, and the other falling 20 points short of that previously mentioned average (111-94).

Phoenix and Los Angeles split the pair of high-scoring affairs 1-1, as both teams managed to claim a double-digit victory in a matchup over the other at full-strength – ultimately, leading to ‘over’ results in both contests.

James and Davis both didn’t participate in the other matchup between these teams though. So, you can pretty much toss it out of the equation while considering your betting options in this series.

But for what it is worth, the matchup that took place during L.A.’s extensive superstar-less period contained 205 points – as the Lakers contributed just 94 of those at a 41.2% clip on the way to the Suns’ second double-digit victory over Los Angeles this year.

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

Phoenix Suns Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 52-22 SU, 43-29-2 ATS, 42-31-1 OU
  • Road: 24-12 SU, 19-15-2 ATS, 21-15 OU

The Suns entered the second half of the season with intentions of making a push for the first-seed in the West down the homestretch – and despite falling one game short of their ultimate goal, Phoenix still gave the Jazz a run for their money in a race that Utah looked to have wrapped up pretty early on.

It appears Phoenix may be the taller team for the task though – considering the Suns have participated in two heavily competitive matchups against the defending champs to kick off their first-round series, and the Jazz have been relatively underwhelming in their series against Memphis so far.

In terms of scoring-volume, Phoenix finished up the regular season owning the top over-percentage in the Western Conference – with the total going 'over' at a 42-30 clip in Suns’ games this year (58.3%).

The pace in this series seems to be leaning with Los Angeles on the low-scoring side of the spectrum though – considering the first two events contained a lowly average of 200 points per game.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 44-31 SU, 34-40-1 ATS, 30-44-1 OU
  • Home: 22-15 SU, 14-23 ATS, 16-21 OU

The Lakers flat-out couldn’t shoot in the opening contest of this series, as Los Angeles tallied just 90 points on 43% from the floor during the nine-point loss – which was a pitiful conjoint-effort led by Davis, who scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shot attempts across 38 minutes of action.

Davis and the defending champs emphatically clapped back with a nine-point victory in Game 2 though, as Phoenix experienced extensive issues defending L.A.’s big man in the post this past Tuesday – allowing the eight-time All-Star to take 21 free-throw attempts during his 34-point performance in Lakers’ road win.

Betting the ‘over’ in Lakers’ games played at the worst clip in the league during the regular-season, regarding the total – with just 39.4% of matchups containing Los Angeles going over the number this year.

The Lakers low-scoring trend has stayed alive while kicking off their postseason campaign too – considering the total stayed 'under' in each of L.A.’s first two playoff-games, and their most recent event probably pushed at OU 211, depending on your book.

Key Injuries

Phoenix Suns

  • None

Los Angeles Lakers

  • None

Suns vs. Lakers Player Prop Best Bet

Anthony Davis – Over 25.5 Points (-108)

After struggling for 13 points on 5-of-16 from the field in his first outing of the series, Davis clearly had a chip on his shoulder heading into L.A.’s Game 2 matchup against the Suns – as the four-time All-Pro went off for 34 points on 47% from the field during the Lakers’ victory on Tuesday night.

I’ll back AD to keep it going here, as LeBron seems content allowing his superstar counterpart to do most of L.A.’s heavy lifting in the scoring department throughout this series – and rightfully so, after how he carried the Lakers this past Tuesday.

Suns vs. Lakers Prediction

After all three regular-season meetings between Phoenix and Los Angeles were separated by a double-digit margin, the first pair of playoff matchups between them were back-and-forth affairs that resulted in a two-game split in the Valley.

My vote of confidence still goes to the Lakers in this series, as King James seemingly always figures out how to handle his team’s business in the postseason – but I don’t think victory is going to come easy.

I’ll take the points with Phoenix here, as L.A. probably splits these two contests at home – or at least gets trapped in a couple competitive battles.

Score Prediction: Lakers 106, Suns 104
Best Bet: Phoenix +7

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