NBA Preview, Odds, And Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers will not be spending any day off in New York as they immediately shift to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Thursday.

The Lakers defeated the Knicks, 100-92, inside the Madison Square Garden in their first assignment of a back-to-back and they plan to do just the same against the Nets.

Anthony Davis appeared to have found his form on Wednesday as he mustered 28 points for the win, atoning his nine-point outing in his first game back from an injury that resulted in a devastating loss to the Celtics on Monday.

The Nets, meanwhile, are in danger of being kicked out of the Playoff picture, no thanks to their current four-game losing skid that placed them at the eighth spot of the Eastern Conference with 18 wins against 24 losses. The Detroit Pistons are closely in pursuit with 17 wins and 28 defeats.

Lakers:

The Lakers, for certain reasons, have been performing better when they are away from Los Angeles. They have captured 19 wins in 23 road games while accounting for 16 victories in 21 games at home. As they boss around every opposition this year, it does not go unnoticed that Lakers fans have reemerged not only at the Staples Center, but in every arena they play in, taking away the advantage from their hosts whenever they are on the road.

And as LeBron James zeroes in Kobe Bryant’s scoring record, expect another significant flock of fans in Purple and Gold to cheer for the King and the Lakers.

Nets:

Monday’s loss against the Sixers marked Brooklyn’s 11^th defeat in 13 games. Star guard Kyrie Irving missed the said game due to hamstring tightness and he is listed probable for Thursday. Irving has not quite lived up to his billing since being signed by the franchise last summer. He has already missed 26 games due to a shoulder injury and continues to be hampered by health issues that obviously hurt his team production-wise.

Odds and Trends:

The Nets are underdogs at home as they are given a +5.5 handicap against the Lakers. The total line is O/U 227.5.

The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 0 days rest and 4-1 in their last 5 road games.

The Nets are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 1-9 in their last 10 games following an ATS loss.

Over is 5-0 in Lakers’ last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game and 6-1 in Nets’ last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 4-0 in Lakers’ last 4 Thursday games and 4-0 in Nets’ last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

Prediction:

Straight-up: Lakers

ATS: Lakers

Total: Under