Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics Betting Preview

One of the most storied rivalries in all of sports will resume on Saturday night when the Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams are NBA title contenders this season, and this should be one of the best games of the NBA season up to this point.

The Lakers come into this game with a record of 14-6, but they have actually lost two straight games. Los Angeles is the defending NBA champion, and it is the clear title favorite again this season.

Boston is just 10-7 so far this season, but it will be a title contender when the playoffs roll around. The Celtics have gone just 3-4 over their last seven games, but they are starting to get back to full strength.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 2.5-point favorites in this matchup. 

Lakers Need Offense to Return

The Lakers have struggled to find offense over the last week, although their top two players continue to shine. Los Angeles has the potential to be one of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA, but it must make some shots. 

LeBron James leads the Lakers with 25.5 points and 7.5 assists per game, and he is playing at an MVP level again this season. Anthony Davis has chipped in with 21.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, and he is capable of taking over a game anytime. 

The Lakers are still looking for more production from their bench unit, and that will remain a huge key for this team throughout the season. Los Angeles has plenty of star power, but depth remains an issue. 

Celtics Battling Through Adversity

The Celtics have had a number of players out due to injury or COVID-19 this season, but the depth of this roster has kept the team afloat. Even after losing Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving the last two years, Boston still has plenty of talent.

Jaylen Brown has emerged as the top scoring threat for the Celtics, as he leads the team with more than 27 points per game. Jayson Tatum is also scoring more than 26 points per game, but he has missed some time due to COVID-19.

Boston is still looking for more offense, but it continues to play some great defense. The Celtics have plenty of solid defenders to throw at James on Saturday night. 

Lakers Get Back on Track

Both the Lakers and Celtics have been scuffling a bit of late, and this will be a great test for each team. There will definitely be plenty of All-Star-caliber players on the court on Saturday night, but the Lakers have the two best players in this matchup.

James and Davis are simply too good to let the Lakers continue to struggle, and they will look to make a statement in this game. The Celtics will keep this game close throughout, but they just won’t have enough offense to pull off the small upset.

Bet the Los Angeles Lakers -2.5 over the Boston Celtics in this huge NBA rivalry game.

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