Can Bettors Expect To See ‘Showtime’ In Latest Round Of Lakers-Celtics?

The most famous rivalry in the NBA is renewed as the Celtics host the Lakers with both teams boasting legitimate title aspirations. The questionable status of star players on both sides makes the spread a dicey play, so bettors may want to just look at the total for action Monday.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Even with Anthony Davis sidelined, the Lakers haven’t missed a beat, going 4-1 in his absence and 10-1 in their last 11 games overall, along with a stellar 18-3 record on the road. As Boston has been in a slump and has multiple key players questionable for this game, the spread opened with the Lakers 1.5-point road favorites.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The Lakers were without star Anthony Davis for the fifth straight game against Houston on Saturday, but LeBron James and Los Angeles’ supporting cast rose to the occasion in a 124-115 road victory.

James went off for 31 points and 12 assists, while Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all cracked the 20-point mark as well. Perhaps more impressive was the Lakers’ defense, which held the NBA’s leading scorer, James Harden, to 8-of-20 shooting from the floor and limited the Rockets to just 17 points in the third quarter, en route to holding them below their season scoring average.

Davis is again listed as questionable for Monday’s tilt with Boston, but considering the Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games – and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 against the Celtics – there should be no concerns about Los Angeles’ competitiveness, with or without its leading scorer.

Boston News & Notes

While it’s always going to be a tough test hosting a team with the NBA’s best road record (and second-best record overall), Boston is going into Monday’s showdown with the Lakers on a real low note.

Following their 123-119 loss to Phoenix on Saturday, the Celtics have now dropped six of their last eight games SU (3-5 ATS), losing their grasp on first place in the Atlantic Division in the process.

Boston could likely again be without two of its top three offensive weapons – leading scorer Kemba Walker is questionable with knee soreness after sitting out the loss to Phoenix, while Jaylen Brown, who has already missed two games with a sprained thumb, is also questionable for Monday’s game.

While it will take a team effort for Boston to win, with a combined 42.1 points per game possibly on the sideline, the Celtics have done well recently playing early in the week: they’ve won five of their last six games played on a Monday.

Betting Pick: OVER 223.5

Three high-scoring stars may possibly sit this game out, but the total has gone OVER in each of the Lakers’ last five games and in four of Boston’s last five contests – these teams are still scoring points and I think they go OVER on Monday as well.