The Los Angeles Lakers are 8-3 SU and ATS in their last 11 games against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers will try to continue their dominance of the Spurs with another victory Wednesday night in San Antonio.
- Date/Time: December 30, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: AT&T Center
- TV Coverage: FSSW, TWSN
- Sportsbook Odds: Lakers -6.5 | O/U 229 (Line History)
- Lakers vs Spurs Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Early action on the Spurs as 6.5-point underdogs has driven the line in this one down to Los Angeles -5. The total is currently set at 229.5 points, up a half-point from its opener at 229 points. The OVER is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings between the Lakers and Spurs.
Los Angeles News & Notes
LeBron James scored 29 points with nine rebounds and six assists in Los Angeles’s last game against the Portland Trail Blazers, but the Lakers fell short in a 115-107 loss. James is celebrating his 36th birthday on Wednesday and continues to play at an elite level despite his age. He is listed as questionable against San Antonio with a tweaked ankle but is expected to play.
With the loss to Portland, the Lakers fell to 2-2 SU and ATS. Los Angeles finished with the fifth-best defense in the league last season, allowing only 107.6 points per game; this season, the team has allowed at least 115 points in three of its first four games. The Lakers have the offensive talent to hold their own in shootouts, but they are at their best when they control the tempo in their own zone.
San Antonio News & Notes
San Antonio opened the season with back-to-back wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors before picking up their first loss Sunday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Spurs did cover the spread in that matchup as 5-point underdogs to improve to 3-0 ATS on the year.
Gregg Popovich’s squad finished with a losing record and missed the playoffs for the first time in 23 years last season with a 32-39 SU campaign. The team is trying to implement a new uptempo style that feels like a better fit for some players than others. DeMar DeRozan (21 points and nine assists per game) and Dejounte Murray (15 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game) are off to hot starts, but LaMarcus Aldridge has averaged only 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Betting Pick: San Antonio +5
The Lakers will be playing their fourth game in six nights on Wednesday, including a travel day. San Antonio should be able to keep this one close as the fresher team at home.
- Los Angeles is 7-2 SU in its last 9 road games.
- San Antonio is 5-1 ATS over its last 6 games.
- The OVER is 4-1 in the Spurs’ last 5 home games.
