It’s a Battle of Los Angeles tonight at the Intuit Dome as the Los Angeles Lakers head to Inglewood to face the Los Angeles Clippers.
LeBron James has been great in recent games, and he’s played well against the Clippers over the last six seasons. My Lakers vs. Clippers predictions expect King James to continue his productive play tonight.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this showdown of crosstown rivals on Saturday, December 20.
Lakers vs Clippers prediction
Lakers vs Clippers best bet: LeBron James Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists (-110)
Since 2019-20, LeBron James has faced the Los Angeles Clippers 20 times. In that span, he’s averaged 26.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists, good for 41.5 PRA.
He hit the Over on this combo line 14 times and posted exactly 36 PRA two more times. As the “visitor,” James has gone for 37+ PRA in seven of eight games against the Clippers.
Over his last four games overall this season, James has averaged 40.5 PRA and hit the Over three times. He finished with a 25/6/6 line in his first tilt with L.A. this season, reaching 37 PRA.
Despite the strong play of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have struggled mightily this season, and I expect James to take advantage of a team ranked 26th in defensive rating.
LeBron gets up for this matchup, and that should be the case again tonight.
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Lakers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Los Angeles Lakers are the superior team, and that's reflected by the team's 19-7 record straight up and 17-9 mark ATS. The Clippers are 6-21 straight up and 8-19 ATS.
The Clippers have won just once and covered three times across their last 10 games, and there's no real homecourt advantage here.
The Lakers are 18-8 to the Over, and the Clippers are 14-13 to the Over. The Lakers have hit the Over in eight of their last 10, and the Clippers have hit it in two of their last three.
These teams hit the Over in their first matchup of the season on November 25, and I expect them to do it again tonight.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
- LeBron James Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists
- Lakers -2.5
- Over 229.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Zubac Crashes the Glass
Ivica Zubac is averaging 11.5 rebounds per game this season, and he's pulled down at least 11 boards in 13 of 27 games. He's reached that mark in three of his last four, and he'll get the benefit of playing against a Lakers frontcourt that will be missing Deandre Ayton.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
- LeBron James Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists
- Lakers -2.5
- Over 229.5
- Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Clippers odds
- Spread: Lakers -2.5 (-105) | Clippers +2.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Lakers -135 | Clippers +115
- Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Los Angeles Lakers have covered the Spread in 51 of their last 87 games (+13.60 Units / 14% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Lakers vs Clippers
| Location | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
| Date | Saturday, December 20, 2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBA TV |
Lakers vs Clippers latest injuries
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