Two classic rivals that have fallen on hard times this season will meet on the hardwood in Boston on Friday night as the Celtics get a visit from the Lakers in NBA betting action.
Boston has only won four of its last 10 games against the Lakers dating back to 2010, but they did manage to pull out an ATS victory in six of those 10 contests.
The OVER has paid out in each of the last three games between the two teams.
Supporters of the Lakers have seen them go 14-25 and 21-18 ATS so far this season, while the Celtics are at 14-26 and 20-20 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). In totals betting, the Celtics are 16-24, while the Lakers are 19-18-2.
View Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics Odds and Stats.
On the Sportsbook line for this matchup at Sportsbook, the Celtics sat as -6-point Favorite. The total had been pegged earlier by the oddsmakers at Sportsbook at 205.
The Celtics sit at No. 21 in the current NBA Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, while the Lakers are at No. 30 on that chart. Math models have concluded that the Celtics will win this game 89-87.
The Lakers were a 121-114 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Suns. They covered the 11-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (235) made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. Los Angeles suffered a 121-114 loss against Phoenix on Wednesday, getting 24 points from Pau Gasol in a losing effort at US Airways Center.
In their last action, Boston was an 88-83 Sportsbook at home against the Raptors. They covered the 4-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (171) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Boston got 25 points and 20 rebounds from Jared Sullinger en route to an 88-83 victory over Toronto on Wednesday at TD Garden.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Boston's No. 26-ranked offense, averaging 95.05 PPG, against a Lakers defense that ranks No. 29 at 105.9 PPG. The Celtics field goal percentage has averaged 44.08% so far, more than the Lakers shooters have achieved on the year, 43.89% per game.
Next up:
Los Angeles at Toronto, Sunday, January 19th
Boston at Orlando, Sunday, January 19th
