Lakers vs. Celtics Betting Preview March 8

The Lakers vs. Celtics game was among the biggest betting markets Saturday evening, second only to Duke vs. North Carolina.

The line had moved from Celtics -6.5 to -7.

Boston comes into a matchup with Los Angeles as winners of three games in a row.

The Celtics have gone 21-11 in home games. Boston ranks last in the Eastern Conference scoring 41.3 points per game in the paint.

The Lakers are 15-14 on the road. Los Angeles has a 15-14 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Celtics average 17.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.6 more made shots on average than the 13.3 per game the Lakers allow. The Lakers are shooting 48.2% from the field, 2.9% higher than the 45.3% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.

Top performers include Jayson Tatum, who is averaging 26.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Celtics.

Tatum comes in with a scoring total over/under of 26.5 for Saturday night's game.

Tatum produced 35 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and five three-pointers across 31 minutes Thursday in a 123-105 win over the 76ers.

From NBC Edge:

"Though Boston won this one handily, Tatum’s scoring was certainly needed. He scored 35 on 14-of-23 shooting while the other four starters combined for 27 points on 12-of-31 shooting. Tatum went 5-of-11 from downtown, while the other starters hit just 2-of-13. Fortunately for Tatum, the bench trio of Torrey Craig, Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard delivered 46 points and nine three-pointers, but this was a game in which Tatum needed to step up, and he answered the call."

Derrick White is averaging 19.3 points over the last 10 games for Boston.

LeBron James is scoring 24.9 points per game and averaging 8.0 rebounds for the Lakers.

James lit up the Knicks with 31 points (11-of-23 FGs), 12 rebounds, eight assists, one block and two three-pointers on Thursday.

Luka Doncic is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.