Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 7, 2021

Eytan Shander
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Lakers are hoping their most recent stumble against the Clippers is just a minor slip. The Celtics are looking to do everything to duplicate their most recent performance against the Blazers. The Lakers host the Celtics Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Lakers 122, Celtics 120

Best Bets

Celtics +3 (-110) at WynnBet

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Predictions

The Lakers are playing at full strength with their top three stars all in action. While they battled back against the Clippers and eventually lost, they are still working to become a more cohesive unit. The Celtics beat up on a down Blazers team and won’t have the same ability to do that against LA.

Jayson Tatum took over without Jaylen Brown and Al Horford but will need more help against a trio of Lakers – with a healthy LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. Boston has played well recently despite Brown’s absence, but the Lakers are healthier than they were the first time these two teams met.

Dennis Schroder has been a big reason why Boston hasn’t slipped without Brown, and why life is a little easier for Tatum. While he and his teammates beat the Lakers the first time around, it was the first game back for James. Boston is going to rely heavily on Tatum to carry the scoring load, so whoever Boston asks to pick up the secondary slack will be targeted by the Lakers.

Expect Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker to attack Schroder before the Celtics guard can penetrate. Boston expects to at least have Horford back, but if Brown does manage to play, then lock in the over.

The Lakers saw a two-game win streak snapped in their most recent outing against the Clippers, but more importantly they are healthy. The all-star trio aside, getting quality minutes from Horton-Tucker and Carmelo Anthony have been a nice edge for the Lakers.

Both Malik Monkand Avery Bradley played quality minutes off the bench to start the season, but the Lakers aren’t relying on their depth anytime soon. Westbrook can’t afford to have anywhere near as bad of a game as he did against the Clippers, especially with the possibility of Brown playing for Boston.

Boston has been volatile from their wins and losses to how many points they score. Over their last five games the Celtics have won scoring 145 and lost scoring 130, while narrowly beating the Sixers 88-87.

It’s been hard to get a true read on Boston without consistently having Brown in the lineup, but they are 13-10-1 ATS on the year and 9-4-1 ATS on the road. The Celtics have played hard and are surviving – thriving ATS – with Tatum taking over entire games. Add Brown and the Celtics have a shot to keep it close in a shootout.

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Resources

• Matchup: Atlantic vs. Pacific
• Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021
• Venue: STAPLES Center
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• TV-Time: TNT - 10:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 13-11
• ATS: 13-11
• O/U: 10-13-1

Boston is led by its two All-Stars as Tatum averages 25.2 PPG, adding 8.8 RPG, and Brown puts in 21.4 PPG. Schroder is next with 17.9 PPG, adding 4.9 APG. Horford averages 12.8 PPG and 8.2 RPG, shooting 45 percent. Smart chips in 11.3 PPG and just under 6 APG. Robert Williams is at 9.1 PPG and 8.6 RPG. Richardson is just under 10 PPG.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 12-12
• ATS: 8-16
• O/U: 15-9

Although he’s missed time, James still leads the Lakers with 25.6 PPG. He adds 5.7 RPG and 6.8 APG while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor. Anthony Davis averages 24.4 PPG and 10 RPG on 52.3 percent shooting. Westbrook is the third Lakers player to average 20+ PPG, adding 8 RPG and 8.6 APG. Anthony puts in 14.3 PPG, while Talen Horton-Tucker and Monk are just over 10 PPG.

Jayson Tatum has scored 30 points or more in seven of eight games vs. the Western Conference. (AP)

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Head-to-Head

The Celtics beat the Lakers in Boston 130-108, as Tatum paced Boston with a game-high 37 points. Davis was the leading scorer for the Lakers with 31 points. This will be the final meeting for the two teams.

Key Players to Watch

• BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (25.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg)
• BOS: Dennis Schroder - PG (17.9 ppg, 4.9 apg)
• LAL: Anthony Davis - PF (24.4 ppg, 10 rpg)
• LAL: LeBron James - SF (25.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 6.8 apg)

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Conclusion

There’s a pathway to two plays so long as the Celtics cooperate. They have been solid ATS despite missing one of their top two players for different stretches, especially on the road. 9-4- 1 ATS away from Boston is a key indicator on the Celtics keeping it close, and more importantly pushing for the over.

If the Celtics are going to keep it close enough to at least cover the spread, it’s because they are keeping up with the 4th ranked Lakers offense. L.A. having the 29 th ranked scoring defense doesn’t hurt either.

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

• Los Angeles has seen the underdog win four of its last five games
• Boston has covered the spread in six straight games when facing Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles has gone into OT in three of its last six home games when facing the Eastern Conference
• Jayson Tatum has scored 30 points or more in seven of eight games vs. the Western Conference.

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff