NBA ATS Picks - Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers Game Preview

The future of the NBA will be on display when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Several top picks in recent drafts will go head-to-head, but we won’t see the top two selections from this year’s draft square off because Philly’s Markelle Fultz is recovering from a shoulder injury. Still, the Sixers have last year’s No. 1 overall Ben Simmons and the Lakers have the 2017 No. 2 overall in Lonzo Ball and both clubs are starting to see progress with their recent hauls in the NBA Draft.

Don’t miss the hardwood action from Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 15, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN. We’ll have NBA opening odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Wednesday schedule.

Odds Analysis

Philly is playing the last of a five-game road trip and could be a tired group come tip-off, but they’ll likely be favored in this matchup as the Lakers have stumbled a bit after an impressive start. LA has won its last three home games covering the spread each time, but they haven’t played at Staples Center in nearly two weeks. The Sixers won here last year, upending the Lakers 118-116 as a 4.5-point dog, and the teams have split their last six meetings.

Scheduling Situation

The Sixers opened their five-game Western Conference road swing by beating the Jazz in Salt Lake City last week, extending their overall win streak to five games giving them a 6-4 record through the first 10 games of the season. It’s quite an accomplishment for a team that has struggled with the process over the past four seasons. But the team is facing its biggest test of the young season after dropping consecutive games to the Kings and Warriors, the latter being a blowout that shows just how far the Sixers are from being a contender.

But the team isn’t worried about contending for a title right now. For the Sixers it’s more about figuring out where they belong in the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference and a road tilt against an evenly-matched opponent is more of a measuring stick. But the Sixers will enter the Lakers game on the back-end of their season-long five-game road trip.

Matchup To Watch

There will be plenty of young talented players on the court and we could select any combination as an intense matchup. Joel Embiid has emerged as one of the best big men in the league and has continue his play from a solid last season. The Lakers have their own top draft picks in Julius Randle and Kyle Kuzma to go against Embiid. But the marquee matchup will be between Simmons and Ball, who are both trying to stake their claim in the league.

Ball came into the season with so much hype that it’s hard to forget he just turned 20 last month. The expectations are similar for Simmons, but the hype isn’t. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick missed the entire campaign, but he’s making up for it. Both are dynamic players and Ball became the youngest to record a triple-double by going for 19 points, 13 assists and 12 boards against the Bucks. Simmons has two triple-doubles this season and both players lead their team in assists, rebounding and steals.

Free NBA ATS Picks

The Lakers are looking forward to getting back home after a sorry road trip and will have the benefit of playing a weary Sixers team, who end their five-game roadie. If anything the game should be fun to watch with the collection of young talent on the court. Philly has a solid frontcourt with Embiid, Dario Saric and Robert Covington and they should control the glass. Turning the game into a perimeter contest favors Philly since the Lakers haven’t quite figured out how to shoot from distance.

Simmons will have a big night and he’ll contain Ball, giving the Sixers the edge they need. J.J. Redick has been a calming veteran influence on the club and his return to Staples Center will help the Sixers move past whatever fatigue they may feel as their road trip concludes. This is a game the Sixers should win and getting it is important to validate the process.

NBA Odds: Sixers 109, Lakers 105

BookMaker offers play-by- play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!