Washington has to hit the road in this one but Los Angeles is among the worst teams in the NBA, so the Wizards should be the favorite. The Lakers have gone to a youth movement down the stretch and they have really struggled.
This will be a tough one for them against one of the best teams in the East.
This war on the floor will go down Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The game will be televised live on NBATV.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Lakers are 21-52 straight up and 31-40-2 against the spread. Los Angeles has played in 36 home games this season and gone 15-19-2 attempting to cover. The Lakers are 26-31-1 against the spread as the underdog this season.
The Wizards are 45-28 straight up and 38-34-1 against the spread. They have hit the road 34 times this season and have gone 16-17-1 against the spread. Washington has gone 23-20-1 attempting to cover as the favorite.
Key Stat
112.3. That’s the number of points per game the Lakers are giving up this season, which is among the worst numbers in the league. The Wizards will aim to take advantage of that porous defense and put up some big numbers.
Washington averages 109 per contest and may surpass that in this one because the pace should be quick. Bradley Beal leads the Wizards in scoring at 23.1 points per game while John Wall is right behind with 23.0. Six players in all average in double figures on the season, and players like Markieff Morris and Otto Porter, Jr. could also have big games in this one.
The Lakers struggle with focus at times and give up some easy hoops. If that happens too much, the Wizards could pull away for an easy win.
Player to Watch
D’Angelo Russell -- The Lakers’ point guard is still developing and he has good and bad games. He is averaging 15.4 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Russell has been getting plenty of playing time since the team has decided to play almost exclusively young players.
He showed his skill-set against the Cavaliers when he scored 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting from the field. Russell had 22 points in the team’s last game, a 97-81 loss to the Trailblazers.
If Russell plays well, he may be able to keep the Lakers competitive. If not, the Wizards could roll to the victory.
Free NBA ATS Pick
It’s the end of a long season, and the Lakers are simply playing out the string while the Wizards are pushing for playoff positioning. Washington has to travel to play this one but should be focused.
The Lakers may be able to keep this one closer than expected, but the Wizards should be able to come up with the win. Keep an eye on the spread. It may not be too large since Los Angeles gets to play at home, where it is much better compared to on the road.
The scoring total is going to be high in this one as the game should feature plenty of up-and-down offense. If either team can hunker down for stretches and force some turnovers it will be a big key in determining the victor in this one.
If Washington has any designs of catching the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East, this is a must-win game.
NBA Odds: Wizards 120, Lakers 114
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!
