NBA Point Spread and Betting Diagnosis
Phoenix is just 11-40 complete this season, with four wins in 25 tries away from home. Overall, the Suns have retained a lot of their games close with an 11-14 record against the spread as the visiting team. They’re only 2-7 ATS this season and 13-28 ATS in their last 41 against divisional opponents.
The Lakers are 15-11 on their home floor so far this season. Overall, they’re 20-27 against the spread, including a 9-15 record against the spread at home. Oddly enough, they are only 7-17 ATS when facing teams with a losing record. They’ve covered and won seven of their last ten meetings between the groups, however.
Phoenix Suns
1 thing we know for certain is that Phoenix has had a extremely tough time slowing down its opponents this year. The Suns are have enabled at least 120 points at back-to-back losses, while offering up 111 points or more in each of the past seven losses. Devin Booker and Kelly Oubre Jr. have done their best to carry Phoenix despite their bad defense. But despite Booker averaging 25.2 points per match and Oubre averaging 17.2 points per game over the previous seven days, the Suns haven’t been able to snap out of the funk.
One of the main concerns today is that they are playing with no Deandre Ayton, T.J. Warren and De’Anthony Melton. That’s two of their best three point-getters while Melton had become the team’s top point guard. It is a great deal to overcome for a group which was terrible to begin with.
Los Angeles Lakers
The challenge for the Lakers on Sunday night is that they could be without much more ability besides James. They’re hoping Kyle Kuzma is prepared to go after he missed Saturday’s clinic and is considered a game-time choice for Sunday. Remember, the team is currently without Lonzo Ball. James, Kuzma and Ball are three of the top four players on the team in terms of minutes played.
That means the Lakers will require men Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac to take the load — even when Kuzma plays. Ingram has averaged 19.3 points per game over the past week but he’s mostly been a disappointment this season. He has a PER of just 11.9. Zubac has awarded the team a shot in the arm recently as he has averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in his past four contests.
There is no question that the Lakers are fighting and they’ll be shorthanded. However, declines at home to the Phoenix Suns — who’s equally shorthanded — are inexcusable. Look for the Lakers to win but the Suns to cover.
