Lakers Short Home Favorite Over Struggling Pacers

It’s been a struggle for the Lakers without Anthony Davis, but a well-rested LeBron James should help. Los Angeles (24-13 SU, 17-20 ATS) seeks just its fourth win in its last 11 games when it returns from the all-star break to host the Pacers (16-19, 14-21), who are 0-8 ATS in their last eight as an underdog.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

When the Lakers are this short a favorite at Staples Center, it’s often been a bad omen. LA is 4-5 SU and ATS over the last two years when favored by 4.5 points or less at home.

Indiana News & Notes

The Pacers needed the all-star break to catch their breath in the midst of a grueling schedule that has seen them go 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS in their last six. Following tonight’s trip to Staples Center, Indiana will visit the Suns and Nuggets before returning home to face the surging Nets.

Help could soon be on the way as Caris LeVert appears close to making his Pacers debut after recently beginning to practice with the team. LeVert, acquired from Brooklyn in January’s four-way deal that sent James Harden to the Nets and Victor Oladipo to Houston, has sat out the last two months to recover from a kidney operation. As of Thursday night, LeVert’s status for the game against the Lakers was uncertain.

Indiana can draw some confidence from the fact that it won both its games against the Lakers last year, including a 116-111 victory in the Orlando bubble. However, the Pacers haven’t beaten the Lakers at Staples Center since 2015 and have not covered any of their last five road games against the purple and gold. Indiana is also 0-8 ATS in its last eight games as an underdog this season.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The break didn’t buy the Lakers enough time to get Davis back into the lineup as LA’s stud big man will miss his 10th straight game due to a right calf strain. The Lakers are 7-7 SU this year when Davis hasn’t suited up, although they’ve won just three times since AD suffered the calf injury against Denver on Valentine’s Day.

However, 10 days between games could prove to be a big benefit to James, who sat out the Lakers’ final pre-break game to rest his left ankle. The King played just 13 minutes in the all-star game and told reporters Thursday that “it’s go time” as the Lakers try to pull out of their recent tailspin.

With Davis still out and center Marc Gasol sidelined by COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Damian Jones could be a strong value option for fantasy players. Jones averaged 10 minutes of action in three games prior to the break and head coach Frank Vogel has told reporters he’d like to see more of the 25-year-old center.

Betting Pick: Lakers -4.5

The Pacers haven’t even come close to covering in their last eight games as an underdog, losing five of them by double digits.