The Los Angeles Lakers might be waving the white towel. The team has struggled the past couple weeks and is pretty much out of contention. There is a report that LeBron James will have his minutes limited down the stretch, which will certainly have an effect on spreads moving forward. It will be interesting to see how the oddsmakers handicap Los Angeles’ game this week against the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference but still in shouting distance of the third spot, and they would love to pick up this win. The Lakers are at home but they could very well be the underdogs in this one, especially if James has his minutes limited in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
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Odds Analysis
The Celtics have a record of 40-26 on the season. They have only won five of their past 10 games but they do enter on a two-game winning streak. Boston has only gone 16-16 on the road this year.
The Lakers have a mark of 30-35 and sit 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot. Everyone expected them to make a run at the postseason with a healthy James leading the way down the stretch but it has not happened. The Lakers have gone 18-15 at home this season but have lost three straight at the Staples Center and will be the underdog again in this one in NBA odds.
Key Stat
35.6. That’s the number of minutes per game James has averaged this season. He played 31 last time out against the Nuggets and it’s possible he averages even less than that down the stretch. James signed a multi-year deal with the Lakers this offseason and the team is going to take the long-term approach of keeping him healthy for the future.
It can’t be an easy pill to swallow for James, and if he pushes back there is a possibility the minutes restriction doesn’t go into effect. Watch out for any updates heading into this game, because if James has a set number of minutes it can certainly affect the outcome of this matchup.
Injury Report
Celtics star point guard Kyrie Irving didn’t play last time out against the Kings due to a thigh contusion. He would surely like to play in this one against his former teammate James but the injury may not let him. This is another high-profile development to watch closely.
Irving is averaging 23.4 points and 7.0 assists per game this year, which leads Boston in both categories. He is also shooting well from the field. While Irving’s teammates haven’t played as well as hoped this year, he has done a nice job statistically.
Free NBA ATS Picks
If Irving doesn’t play, that could deal a blow to Boston’s shot at a road win. However, the Lakers are a mess right now and don’t seem to have much motivation to win any longer. James is like to be limited to closer to 30 minutes per game moving forward, and that longer time on the bench will be a boon to Boston.
The Celtics are the pick to capture this matchup in NBA betting lines. Look for the “under” to hit as the offense could be sloppy at times for both teams.
NBA ATS Pick: Boston Celtics 110, Los Angeles Lakers 104
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