The Lakers and Clippers started the new year with a loss. The excuse can be that they played away games, but the Lakers are coming home at Crypto.com arena for tonight's (January 3) matchup against the Heat. Bookie apps consider the Lakers as the favorite, allocating them a -6.5 point spread, something that was expected after Miami’s star Jimmy Butler got ruled out for tonight's game.
Los Angeles entered a dry spell losing 7 out of their last 9 games, while Miami won 7 out of their last 11 games and has the better overall record of 19-14, compared with the Lakers 17-17 record. Let’s preview the NBA best prop bets for this cross-conference showdown.
LeBron Is Still the Engine of the Lakers
The Lakers experienced a significant defeat of 129-109 to the Pelicans on New Year’s Eve. LeBron James once again defied father time, spending 37 mins on the hardwood floor with 34 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, but could not will his team to victory, especially after their poor defensive performance. Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves contributed with 20 points each. The Lakers shot with 47.6% efficiency from the field and 31.3% from the three-point line against the Pelicans.
The Lakers score 114.5 points a game on average and allow 114.6 points per contest. They rank 10th in the Western Conference and will play without Gabe Vincent, who is out until February, while on the questionable list are Cam Reddish, D'Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura. It’s not encouraging that the Lakers did not cover their point spread in the last 5 games at home against opponents with a winning record from the Eastern Conference.
Heat’s Defensive Effort Is Lacking
The Heat suffered a 121-104 defeat at the Clippers on Monday, after they blew a 14-point lead. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game that defensively they could have played better. With Jimmy Butler sitting out the game, the leadership role was assumed by Bam Adebayo with a double-double scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Other players with solid performances were veteran Kevin Love with 17 points, while Duncan Robinson netted 15 points. Butler’s foot injury will sideline him for tonight's game, and the team will miss his 21-points-per-game average.
The Heat ranked as 5th seed in the Eastern Conference, scoring with 47.0% efficacy for field goals and 32.9% for three points. Miami scores 113 points per game and allows 112 points in return. Defensively, Miami forces 14.4 turnovers per night, but rank 21st in the NBA for giving up assists, making it possible for opponents to move the ball against them.
Betting Prediction
Winning the In-Season Tournament might have satisfied the Lakers' championship appetites, winning 3 out of 11 last games. Both teams are battling injuries, but Jimmy Butler is a big impact player for the Heat. Although Miami has played better lately, playing at home offers advantages for Los Angeles.
Sportsbooks with best free bets online offer -110 odds for both teams to cover their spread. A moneyline bet offers -245 odds for the Lakers and a +200 betting line for the Heat. The total is 226.5 points with equal -110 odds for the Over and Under bets.
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