Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview/Prop Picks

Two teams in the Western Conference prepare for a night of action. The Los Angeles Lakers, fresh off a win over the Warriors, head out to face the Spurs. LeBron James proved yet again why he’s one of the best players in the NBA just a few nights ago.

They’ll likely look to him to lead them to victory again. The question is, will anyone actually be able to help him this time?

The San Antonio Spurs have lost four games in a row, and things aren’t looking good. They have a lot of work they need to do if they want to break the top ten in the Western Conference. A good start would be getting a win over the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Can they find a way to shut down LeBron after his incredible night? Or will the Lakers steamroll over the Spurs on Monday?

Los Angeles Lakers: Looking to LeBron for another win

It’s no secret that the last few games for the Lakers have been difficult to watch. Aside from their win over the Warriors, the Lakers had lost four games in a row. Now, they’ll head back out on the road to face the Spurs, a team they’ve struggled with.

Sure, LeBron had a great night against Golden State, but can he repeat it today? Also, how much time will he spend on the bench?

Some forget that LeBron James is still dealing with a knee injury. In the event he’s limited tonight, the Lakers will be at a massive disadvantage. They already have one of the worst defenses in the NBA, ranking 25th in the league.

If LeBron is out, they’ll lose a sizable portion of their offensive scoring as well. This will force them to rely on players like Russell Westbrook.

San Antonio Spurs: Bad defense is what’s ailed the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have a worse defense than the Los Angeles Lakers do, ranking 26th in the NBA. The main reason for the losses they’ve been dealt is due to this lackluster defense. As they prepare to face the Lakers, defense should be the focal point.

If it isn’t, they’ll find themselves in a dangerous spot against the Lakers. Especially if LeBron is healthy and cleared.

The good news for the Spurs is they have an offense that can dig them out of a hole. They average 112.75 points per game, ranking seventh in the NBA. If the Spurs can use their offense to overwhelm the Lakers, they could win this game.

They’ve lost four in a row, so a win is definitely needed here. They come in as narrow favorites here, so who should you bet on?

Our pick for the Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs

The Los Angeles Lakers most recently played the Spurs in late December of 2021. The Lakers were at home in that game and were 1.5-point favorites. By the end of the game, the Spurs had won 138-110, easily beating the Lakers.

For this reason, we’re going to take the Spurs to cover the narrow two-point margin. Especially since they’re better against the spread than LA is.

The Lakers have gone 27-36 against the spread this season, with a 13-15 ATS road record. Over their last five games, they’ve gone 1-4 against the spread, leaving bettors with little confidence.

The total is also set pretty high in this game, at 232. With how these teams have performed recently, you should take the under in this game.

DunkelIndex Free Pick: San Antonio Spurs -2, UNDER

Prop Picks

San Antonio (-110) OVER 117.5 Points

San Antonio is averaging 112.8 points per game on offense, which ranks No. 7 in the league. That average increases to 114.2 points per game at home. LA is allowing 112.7 points per game on defense, which ranks No. 25 in the league. That average increases to 113.1 points per game on the road.

With Dunkel predicting a San Antonio victory by the score of 121-106, take the Spurs (-110) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 117.5 points against the Lakers.

LeBron James (-120) UNDER 30.5 Points

James is coming off his 56-point outburst against Golden State on Saturday. Prior to that, he had scored 26 points in back-to-back games against the Clippers and Mavericks. In all, James has topped 30 points in just three of his last 11 games.

With Dunkel predicting the Lakers to stay UNDER their team total of 116.5 points, take James (-120) to finish UNDER his Vegas total of 30.5 points against the Spurs.

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