Nets vs. Lakers Odds, Preview, Pick & Prediction — December 25th
Nets vs. Lakers Odds
| Nets Odds | +2 |
| Lakers Odds | -2 |
| Over/Under | 224 |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 25 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
At the beginning of the season, many pundits may have anticipated this contest between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers being an NBA Finals Preview. The Lakers have not held up their end of the bargain thus far, as they enter play below .500 on the year. On top of the Lakers’ disappointing start to the campaign, this matchup is also significantly impacted by the ongoing global pandemic. LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving are each listed as out due to health and safety protocols for Brooklyn. Trevor Ariza, Anthony Davis, Kendrick Nunn, and Austin Reaves will be on the sidelines in this one for the Lakers. Oddsmakers are anticipating a tightly contested affair between these two depleted rosters, pricing the Lakers as 2-point home favorites on the spread at online sportsbooks.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how the Nets and Lakers match up before making our Christmas Night pick.
Nets
Per Cleaning the Glass, when Aldridge, Durant, and Joe Harris are off of the floor this season, Brooklyn ranks in only the 4th percentile in offensive efficiency, but this unit remains strong on the other end of the floor–ranking in the 92nd percentile in defensive efficiency. The Nets have played only one game since losing Durant to health and safety protocols, losing 100-93 to the Orlando Magic on December 18. Their subsequent three games were each postponed, meaning that Brooklyn has not played in seven days. Brooklyn’s only game this season played with more than four days of rest was on opening night–a game in which they lost by 23 points to the Milwaukee Bucks. Fortunately for Nets’ fans, Brooklyn has a far less talented opponent in this one as they look to secure a holiday win.
Lakers
Per Cleaning the Glass, when Trevor Ariza, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves are off of the floor this season, the Lakers rank in only the 17th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 23rd percentile in defensive efficiency. Even the presence of LeBron James has failed to be a cure-all for a Los Angeles roster seemingly going nowhere positive as we approach the halfway point of the campaign.
James is averaging an impressive 27.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on 54.9 percent from the floor during the month of December, but the result has been only four wins in 10 contests. Since losing Anthony Davis to an injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Friday, the Lakers have failed to crack the win column–losing to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs by an average of 17.0 points per game. Hoping put an end to their four-game skid,
Los Angeles is going to need a superstar performance from James this evening, and even that might not be enough.
Pick and Prediction
As mentioned above, the Nets have struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket when Durant has been on the sidelines this season. In their last game against the Orlando Magic, the Nets posted an offensive efficiency rating of only 92.1 points per 100 possessions. In three games since losing Davis to a knee injury, the Lakers rank 30th in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 99.7 points per 100 possessions. Even a torrid pace between these two teams is not likely to result in enough points for the over to hit. Expect an offensive struggle for both the Nets and Lakers tonight. Take the under.
PICK: Under 224 (-110)
Image Credit: Imagn