Predictions from Lakers Experts for Tonight's Matchup Against Brooklyn.

 

Tonight, at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN, your 21-21 Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the 16-24 Brooklyn Nets in a matchup between teams not quite contending for the play-in tournament.

LA has turned things around lately, winning four of the last six games. This comes as a positive shift from the 3-10 record they had after winning the In-Season Tournament championship against the Indiana Pacers last month. On the flip side, Brooklyn has been consistently average this season, drawing more attention for potential trade requests than for their performance on the court.

The question is, can the Los Angeles Lakers cover tonight's spread? As per The Action Network, a sports book aggregator, Los Angeles is currently a -7 favorite against Brooklyn. Following their impressive win against the strong Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, it seems like the Lakers have found a rhythm. If they can manage to limit Nets' top scorer Mikal Bridges and prevent him from frequent trips to the foul line, I believe this game is very winnable. My prediction is that LA will cover.

Another point to ponder is whether D'Angelo Russell will continue his hot streak. Since returning to LA's starting lineup, the former Net has been on fire. In this relatively short period, the 6'3" OSU product has been averaging 27.3 points with shooting splits of .534/.520/1.000. Additionally, he has contributed 5.7 assists, three rebounds, a steal, and a block, registering a +5.7 plus-minus. While his shooting efficiency might not last in the long run, facing Brooklyn's current starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, D-Lo should be able to surpass his regular season scoring average of 15.7 points. The Action Network has set his over/under at 17.5 points, and I'd recommend taking the over. pascal siakam anthony davis joel embiid stats lakers vs jazz nba trades lamelo ball stats mavericks vs lakers nikola jokic stats