A few weeks ago, a matchup between Philadelphia 76ers vs the Los Angeles Lakers looked like an NBA Finals preview, but with no LeBron James, Anthony Davis, or Joel Embiid, this game loses a bit of its luster.
But while the Lakers look lost without AD and LeBron, the Sixers have still found success without their MVP candidate and as a result, are 5.5-point road favorites for tonight’s matchup at the Staples Center.
Check out our NBA free picks and predictions for 76ers vs. Lakers on Thursday, March 25, with tipoff scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers betting preview
Injuries
76ers: Danny Green SF (Questionable), Seth Curry SG (Questionable), Joel Embiid C (Out).
Lakers: Marc Gasol C (Questionable), LeBron James F (Out), Anthony Davis PF (Out), Jared Dudley (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 5-0 in the 76ers' last five games as a road favorite and 6-0 in the Lakers' last six games against a winning percentage above .600. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Lakers.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonDraftKings opened Philadelphia -4.5 Wednesday night, stretched to -6 a couple of times today and is at -5.5 as of 7:30 p.m. ET. It's all 76ers on the point spread, at 91 percent of tickets and 92 percent of dollars. The total rose from 211.5 to 215.5, with the Over drawing 64 percent of tickets/61 percent of cash.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
Life for the Lakers was tough enough when it was just Anthony Davis sidelined, and it's downright awful now that LeBron has joined him on the bench.
Since LeBron got hurt, the Lakers have lost three games in a row straight up and ATS, scoring just 99.7 points per game. The Lakers have some decent role players in Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell, but no one who can really take over a game when they need to.
Meanwhile, the 76ers have gone 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS since Embiid went down with a knee injury, with the lone loss being a four-point overtime defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks. So, how have the Sixers done it? Well, they’ve stepped up their efforts at the defensive end of the floor, ranking first in the NBA in defensive rating since Embiid's tumble. That doesn’t bode well for a Lakers team that has shot just 41.9 percent from the floor since LeBron got hurt.
The Sixers still have their Mr. Everything in Ben Simmons, who is averaging 16.2 points on nearly 50 percent shooting, to go along with 8.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists in Embiid’s absence, while Tobias Harris is stepping up his game and looks to have found his peak form once again.
The Sixers have the two best players in this game and, unlike the Lakers, have proven their ability to overcome multiple injuries and are really playing as a team (loads of credit goes to Doc Rivers), fueling a run that has seen them go 9-1 SU and 8-1-1 ATS. Lay the points.
PREDICTION: 76ers -5.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The total for this matchup opened about as low as they come by today’s NBA standards at 211.5, so it’s no surprise early bettors jumped on the Over. But that early action has driven the number all the way to 216.5 and that is high enough to consider leaning the other way.
As mentioned, the 76ers have really turned up the intensity on defense since Embiid has been out, allowing a minuscule 96.5 points per game in regulation. But at the same time, while guys like Simmons and Harris have stepped up, Embiid’s loss is certainly felt on the offensive end, where they are now averaging just 108.5 points per game. On top of that, sharpshooters Danny Green and Seth Curry are both questionable for this matchup.
And while the Lakers certainly don’t have the same defensive presence without LeBron or AD on the floor, this team is well-coached and has several pieces left of the NBA’s top-rated defense. With the Lakers lacking offense, this one should slip Under the number.
PREDICTION: Under 216.5 (-110)
Player prop pick
Harris has really shouldered the load on offense for the Sixers with Embiid out. Over the last six games, the small forward is dropping 24.3 points while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc. Harris should find some room to work against a Lakers team that just allowed Brandon Ingram to go off for 36 points.
Mix in the fact that Philly could be without two solid contributors in Curry and Green, and Harris may have to do even more. Take the Over on his point total.
PREDICTION: Tobias Harris Over 22.5 Points (-120)
76ers vs Lakers betting card
- 76ers -5.5 (-110)
- Under 216.5 (-110)
- Tobias Harris Over 22.5 Points (-120)
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