Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards 12/18/22 NBA Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Washington Wizards invade the crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

The Washington Wizards have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 12 of their last 13 games overall and they will be hoping to arrest a nine-game slide after falling to the Clippers in a 102-93 road loss on Saturday. Kristaps Porzingis led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals, Kyle Kuzma added 17 points while Deni Avdija chipped in with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. As a team, the Wizards shot just 42 percent from the field and nine of 25 from the 3-point line as they got off to a quick start and led by as many as 15 points in the first half, but they couldn’t maintain that focus in the second half where they managed just 36 points to allow the Clippers to run them down in the end.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers look to have moved on from their three-game skid as they’ve now won two of their last three games after routing the Nuggets in a 126-108 win on Friday. LeBron James led the way with 30 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Thomas Bryant added 21 points on nine of 11 shooting off the bench, while Russell Westbrook tallied a triple-double of 15 points with 11 rebounds and 12 assists. As a team, the Lakers shot 52 percent from the field and 12 of 33 from the 3-point line as they went back and forth with the Nuggets in a tightly contested first half, before they clamped down defensively and held the Nuggets to just 43 points in the second half to pull away and win convincingly in the end.

The Wizards will again be missing Rui Hachimura and Bradley Beal, while the Lakers have ruled out Anthony Davis for this one. The Wizards haven’t been able to buy a win these days and they will be kicking themselves after blowing a big lead to the Clippers on Saturday. The Lakers have been playing some good basketball after a rough start to the season and they should have no trouble getting the win here despite missing their big man. Expect the Lakers to get the win and cover behind big games from James and Westbrook.