The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs used to be a good one. But while San Antonio has stayed among the best teams in the NBA, the Lakers have fallen off. Los Angeles was hoping to show some progress this season but has slid to the worst record in the Western Conference.
It doesn’t figure to get any better when these two teams face off in Los Angeles this week. The Spurs are among the league’s elite and will once again aim to knock off the Warriors in the playoffs.
The Lakers are undoubtedly lottery bound and have struggled mightily of late. It helps that San Antonio will be without Kawhi Leonard, but even so look for the Spurs to be favored in this matchup.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 11, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Spurs are 27-14 straight up and 20-18-3 against the spread this season. San Antonio has gone 16-12-2 against the spread as the favorite. The Spurs have only gone 7-13-1 attempting to cover on the road this season.
The Lakers are 12-27 straight up and have covered in 18 of 39 attempts against the spread. Los Angeles is 9-12 against the spread at home this season and 15-18 against the spread as the underdog.
Injury Report
Leonard -- San Antonio’s star small forward was an MVP candidate a season ago but has been bogged down by injuries this season. He missed the first chunk of the season and returned for only eight games before a shoulder injury has sidelined him again.
It remains to be seen how long Leonard is sidelined but he is not expected to be available for this game. Leonard is averaging 15.9 points and 4.3 rebounds on the season but those numbers figured to increase as he got back into the flow.
Instead, he is back on the shelf. LaMarcus Aldridge should once again pick up the slack. He is averaging 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest, while reliable veterans like Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are still doing their jobs.
Player To Watch
Kyle Kuzma -- The Lakers took Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick this year but it is the guy they grabbed near the end of the first round who has been the real standout. Kuzma, an athletic power forward, is averaging a team-high 17.1 points per game this season while adding 6.3 rebounds per contest.
He is shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three-point range. The Lakers are struggling right now but they do have some intriguing young talent like Kuzma, Ball, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle.
The team needs to start making some progress so that the franchise becomes a more attractive destination for free agents this offseason. A win over the Spurs would be a nice step but it is a lot to ask.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Without Leonard the Spurs will go with a balanced approach, and it’s hard to know who will have a big game against the Lakers. However, San Antonio runs a disciplined offense and defense, which should take advantage of a young Lakers team that does not play in that mold.
Look for the Spurs to get plenty of easy baskets, which will allow them to pull away for the victory. Check out the spread in this one. If it is too low, San Antonio could be a good choice to cover. The “under” is an option as the Lakers could have trouble scoring in this game.
NBA Odds: Spurs 109, Lakers 97
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