The Lakers (22-7 SU, 14-15 ATS) beat Minnesota on Tuesday in their first game since Anthony Davis was injured, but things get a lot tougher against the surging Nets (18-12 SU, 14-16 ATS). Brooklyn, which will be without Kevin Durant for a third straight game, has won and covered four in a row.
- Date/Time: February 18, 10 p.m. ET
- Arena: Staples Center
- TV Coverage: TNT
- Sportsbook Odds: Lakers -2.5 | O/U 236.5 (Line History)
- Nets vs Lakers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
It’s not often you see a point spread or total like this for a Lakers home game. LA has been favored by at least 5 points in 11 of its last 12 at Staples Center, and the 236.5 Sportsbook total is the highest for a Lakers home game in nearly a calendar year.
Brooklyn News & Notes
The Nets’ much-maligned defense came up big Tuesday as Brooklyn overcame the absence of Durant and Kyrie Irving to improve to 4-0 SU and ATS in its last four.
After surrendering 75 points in the Sportsbook half, the Nets gave up just 49 the rest of the way and held the Suns scoreless in the final 2:48 of regulation as Brooklyn came all the way back from a 24-point deficit.
Despite the defensive improvement, playing for the second straight night and being without two of their top three offensive weapons, the Nets still sailed OVER the total by 25 points.
James Harden had 38 points and recorded at least 10 assists for the ninth time in his last 10 games, but Brooklyn’s role players also stepped up big. Joe Harris and Tyler Johnson combined to hit nine three-pointers while Jeff Green and Landry Shamet provided a combined 31 points off the bench.
Those players should get plenty of touches once again against the Lakers as Durant has already been ruled out to rest his left hamstring strain. Irving is expected to suit up, however, as his absence Tuesday was a precautionary measure on the second night of a back-to-back.
Los Angeles News & Notes
Playing their first full game since Davis strained his calf on Sunday, the Lakers showed Tuesday that they’ve got plenty of depth to overcome the absence of their fallen superstar.
Montrezl Harrell scored 17 points in 18 minutes, Marc Gasol had 11 points in a season-high 29 minutes, Markieff Morris hit three of his five three-point attempts and Dennis Schroder snapped out of a shooting slump with 24 points in a 112-104 win over the Timberwolves in Minnesota.
Of course, the Lakers also still have LeBron James, who was 13-for-20 from the field on his way to a 30-point, 13-rebound, seven-assist performance. Still, LA held just a two-point lead over the hapless Timberwolves entering the third quarter before outscoring the T-Wolves 26-20 in the final frame to earn just their fourth cover in their last 12 games.
Los Angeles might have taken control earlier if it hadn’t been so careless with the ball, especially in the early going. The Lakers turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter alone and committed 18 giveaways on the evening, going UNDER for the first time in their last six games.
Betting Pick: UNDER 236.5
It’s hard backing an UNDER in Brooklyn games, but the Lakers are still a defensive powerhouse and should keep things below this sky-high total. Only two of LA’s 29 games this season have seen more than 232 points scored.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- The OVER is 17-3 in Brooklyn’s last 20 games.
- The OVER is 5-1 in Los Angeles’ last 6 games.
- Los Angeles is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games.
