NBA Betting – Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

Now that the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are relevant again their games get a little more hype than normal. The storied franchises have combined to win 33 NBA titles while battling each other for the trophy a whopping 12 times. Both teams are on their way to reaching the postseason this year with the Lakers holding down the top spot in the Western Conference coming out of the All-Star break, and they’ll look to avenge the 139-107 trouncing they took last month in Boston.  CLAIM YOUR WELCOME BONUS - MAXIMUM $1000

Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

Date and Time: Sunday, February 23, 2020, 3:30 p.m. ET

Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Opening NBA Odds: Check Back Later

Celtics at Lakers TV Coverage: ABC

Odds Analysis

A run that saw the Celtics win eight of nine and 11 of 13 leading up to the All-Star break started with a victory over the Lakers on Jan. 20. They remain within spitting distance of the Bucks at the top of the Eastern Conference and treated their backers well by going 9-4 ATS in those games. In order to keep pace with the big boys the Celtics will have to win on the road. They take a mediocre 15-11 road record with them when the second half opens with four consecutive away games. The Lakers got a big win before the break knocking of Denver in a battle of the top teams in the West. LA has had its struggles at home with over half their losses on the season taking place inside Staples Center. Though they lost by 32 points in Boston last month, the Lakers are a home favorite for the rematch.

Boston Celtics

Getting Kemba Walker to replace Kyrie Irving looks like a genius move now that Irving is done for the season in Brooklyn. Walker has missed games here and there with minor injuries, but he’s shown a willingness to play through those ailments and has fit in nicely with his group of talented teammates. He’s not a dominant on-ball guard and that’s allowed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to thrive offensively.

Brown and Tatum are having career years and each of the three averages more than 20 points per game, the only trio of teammates in the NBA to do that. One of Walker, Brown and Tatum has led the Celtics in scoring in 45 games helping the team score 113.1 points per outing. They scored at least 100 points in 18 straight outings before the break and topped the 110-point mark 13 times. They showed the Lakers how explosive they can be last month with all three scoring at least 20 points while combining for 67.

The Celtics can still play defense and they’ve done that quite well, though recent numbers suggest otherwise. They have the third-best scoring defense in the Association surrendering just 106.2 points and their length has disrupted many shooters. Opponents hit just 44 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range against them. Boston allowed an average of 120 point over the three games prior to the break, but they outscored two of them.

Los Angeles Lakers

Frank Vogel talked about staying focused through the ‘dog days’ of February leading into the break. With LeBron James on his side that’s something the coach doesn’t have to worry about. James and Anthony Davis had a good time at the All-Star game leading Team LeBron to a comeback win over Team Giannis. It’s back to work now in what is a tight race in the West.

The Lakers bought themselves a little breathing room before the break by winning in overtime in Denver, their third straight and fifth in six games following the sudden loss of franchise icon Kobe Bryant. Pairing Davis with LeBron has worked out well with the Lakers posting 40 wins by the All-Star break for the first time since 2010, which by the way was the last time they won the NBA title. And to complete the circle they beat Boston in the Finals that year.

With Davis closer to 100 percent than he was in the first meeting, the Lakers will certainly have a better showing. AD returned after missing five games with bruised fanny and was a non-factor in LA’s 139-107 loss in the Garden on Jan. 20. He scored just nine points with four rebounds in 23 minutes, and was relieved from the game due to early foul trouble. Since that loss AD is averaging 26.8 points and 10.1 rebounds. LeBron, meanwhile, continues to lead the league with 10.8 assists adding 25.0 points per game.

Bet Celtics at Lakers at BookMaker.eu

The Lakers are a better team on the road than they are at home. But don’t let that fool you. Having AD all in for this matchup is a plus and LeBron will do what he always does. And the Lakers will use that humbling loss in Boston last month as inspiration for a big home cover.

NBA Score Prediction: Los Angeles 115, Boston 107

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com