Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns 12/18/20: NBA Basketball free preview, analysis, prediction, odds and pick against the spread.
2020-12-18 22:30:00 EDT
The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns meet Friday in NBA preseason action at the PHX Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers look for a win to end the preseason with a 4-0 record. The Los Angeles Lakers are averaging 110 points on 46.6 percent shooting and allowing 98 points on 40.9 percent shooting. Talen Horton-Tucker is averaging 23.3 points and eight rebounds while Kyle Kuzma is averaging 22 points and 3.7 assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the third double-digit scorer and Montrezl Harrell is grabbing 9.7 rebounds. The Los Angeles Lakers are shooting 48.6 percent from beyond the arc and 73.9 percent from the free thitem line. The Los Angeles Lakers are allowing 30.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46 rebounds per game.
The Phoenix Suns need a win here to prevent a winless preseason. The Phoenix Suns are averaging 101.3 points on 42 percent shooting and allowing 114 points on 46.9 percent shooting. Devin Booker is averaging 19.7 points and 4.3 assists while Langston Galloway is averaging 13 points and 1.7 rebounds. Mikal Bridges is the third double-digit scorer and Deandre Ayton is dishing 1.7 assists. The Phoenix Suns are shooting 31.3 percent from beyond the arc and 77.3 percent from the free thitem line. The Phoenix Suns are allowing 37.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.3 rebounds per game.
The Lakers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Suns are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games and 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall. The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Phoenix and 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
The Los Angeles Lakers can do no wrong in the preseason, and it comes down to their defensive effort from the top to bottom of their roster. The Phoenix Suns are much better than what they’ve shown up to this point, but the offense has struggled and it may take some time to knock the rust off or get CP3 comfortable. Either way, I’m tired of betting the Suns and losing expecting things to turn around. Give me the Lakers and the small chalk.
