NBA-Leading Suns Big Favorites Vs Host Lakers

The NBA-leading Phoenix Suns (24-5 SU, 16-13 ATS) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (16-15, 12-19) at Staples Center on Tuesday in their second meeting of the season. The Suns will look to win their fourth straight game while the Lakers try to snap a two-game skid.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Suns opened as 6.5-point favorites on the road with the total set at 218.5 points. The UNDER is 6-1 in the Lakers’ last seven outings and 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles. Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last five games while Los Angeles is 1-7 ATS in its last eight contests against Pacific Division opponents.

Phoenix News & Notes

The Suns topped the Charlotte Hornets 137-106 on Sunday to pick up their third straight win and improve to 8-2 in their last 10 outings. JaVale McGee was the team leader with just 19 points, but the Suns had nine of 12 players score double digits.

Offense has been Phoenix’s bread and butter this year as the team is averaging 111.9 points per game, the third-best rate in the league. Devin Booker (22.9 points per game) is far and away the Suns’ highest scorer, but the club has arguably the best depth in the NBA, with eight players averaging over 10 points per night.

While several teams have been ravaged by COVID-19, the Suns have managed to avoid it for now. Abdel Nader (knee) will miss Tuesday’s matchup.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The Lakers fell 115-110 to the Chicago Bulls in their latest outing on Sunday. LeBron James had 32 points and 14 boards for the double-double to led the Lakers, while Carmelo Anthony added 21 points and Russell Westbrook 20.

James is finally healthy, appearing in eight straight games, but the Lakers can’t seem to avoid injuries to their star players. Anthony Davis was the team’s latest casualty as he went down with an MCL sprain during Friday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The power forward will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Talen Horton-Tucker, Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, Austin Reaves, Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard are all in health and safety protocols and will miss Tuesday’s game.

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How Phoenix Will Cover

The Suns are healthy and firing on all cylinders, winning by 10-plus points in four of their last six victories – including a whopping 31-point margin their last time out. The Lakers, on the other hand, are missing a ton of key players. You can never take a team led by James for granted, but Phoenix certainly looks poised for a big win.

How Los Angeles Will Cover

We know the Lakers can score, but can they defend? So far this season, that hasn’t been the case as they’ve given up 111.3 points per game – the 26th-ranked defense in the NBA. But if they’re going to stand a chance against the Suns, they’ll have to tighten up – otherwise it could be a blowout.

Computer Pick: Suns -7

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