The Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers collide at the Crypto.com Arena on Friday night. Here’s a Lakers vs. Nets Prediction. This article will include a Lakers vs. Nets Pick.
Brooklyn Nets Betting Preview
The Brooklyn Nets have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 19 of their last 21 games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a 10th straight defeat after falling short to the Warriors in a 109-106 road defeat on Wednesday. Ziaire Williams led the team with 19 points with six steals; Ben Saraf added 14 points with seven assists, while Jalen Wilson chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Nets shot 48 percent from the field and 12 of 33 from the 3-point line as they got off to a solid start and looked to be in control after taking a 13-point lead in the third quarter, but they allowed the Warriors back into the contest and it cost them in the fourth quarter, where they managed just 20 points to come up just short in a disappointing finish.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on fire as they’ve won 13 of their last 15 games overall and they will be eager to keep it going after taking down the Pacers in a 137-130 road win on Wednesday. Luka Doncic led the team with 43 points, six rebounds and seven assists on 15 of 30 shooting; Austin Reaves added 25 points with eight assists; LeBron James tallied 23 points with nine rebounds and nine assists, while Jaxson Hayes chipped in with 21 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Lakers shot a healthy 56 percent from the field and nine of 23 from the 3-point line as they caught fire early with 45 points in the first quarter and built a 29-point lead before they pulled their starters early and allowed the Pacers to finish with a flurry in garbage time.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Lakers have won each of their last 10 games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Nets have lost 21 of their last 22 games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last seven home games.
- The Nets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
Why the Brooklyn Nets will win
- The underdogs have won five of the last six games between the Nets and Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
- The Lakers have lost 15 of their last 28 games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents following a win.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the last six games between the Nets and Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last three games.
Total Points: Facts
- Each of the Lakers’ last 10 home games against Atlantic Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Five of the Nets’ last six night games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Los Angeles Lakers Player Facts
- LeBron James ranks 1st amongst qualified players for fast break points per game (5.8) this season.
- Deandre Ayton ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for FG% (67.2%) this season.
Brooklyn Nets Player Facts
- Nicolas Claxton ranks 11th amongst qualified players for FG% (56.7%) this season.
- Ziaire Williams ranks 11th amongst qualified players for steals per 36 minutes (2.1) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (3.5).
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (50.0%).
- The Nets rank 30th in the league for points per game this season (106.3).
- The Nets rank 30th in the league for rebounds per game this season (39.7).
Lakers vs Nets Prediction
The Nets are still missing Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney, Michael Porter Jr., and Egor Demin, while the Lakers have ruled out Marcus Smart with Rui Hachimura and Luka Doncic both listed as questionable. The Nets haven’t been able to buy a win lately; they are missing a bunch of key players and are coming into this one fresh off a tough loss to the slumping Warriors, so this may not be the ideal time to take on the surging Lakers, who are playing their best basketball of the season. This is definitely a game where you should check the lineups before tipoff, as the status of Doncic will have an impact on the line, but I do have the Lakers winning this comfortably whether he plays or not.