The Brooklyn Nets visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday for their second and final matchup of the season. The Lakers came out on top with a 125-109 win when the teams last met in Brooklyn on Feb. 3. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists on 10 of 16 shots, while Luka Doncic added 24 points with six rebounds and five assists.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points for the Nets, while Day’Ron Sharpe added 19 off the bench. Apart from them, nobody else played efficiently to give the Nets a shot at causing an upset. The game was pretty much decided in the first quarter after Los Angeles closed it with a 45-23 lead.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game Details
Yes Network and Spectrum SportsNet will locally televise the Nets vs. Lakers game. NBA League Pass will globally stream the clash online. The game will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Nets vs. Lakers Odds
Moneyline: Nets +950, Lakers -1650
Spread: Nets +16.5 (-110), Lakers -16.5 (-110)
Total over/under: Nets o222.5 (-108), Lakers u222.5 (-110)
Nets vs. Lakers Preview
With nine games left, the Brooklyn Nets remain one of the worst teams in the NBA with a 17-56 record. They are 14th in the Eastern Conference, locked for another lottery finish. Brooklyn is on a nine-game skid entering its clash against Los Angeles.
It’s unlikely the Nets overturn that against the mighty Lakers, who are on a hot streak over the past month. Brooklyn is also without Michael Porter Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Egor Demin and Danny Wolf, making it ever tougher to record an upset.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won 13 of their last 15 games. They have the third-best offense and ninth-best defense in that stretch. Los Angeles beat the Pacers 137-130 in its last outing to round off a four-game road trip. The Lakers did an excellent job of starting the game the right way. While they struggled a bit down the stretch, most of it was due to fatigue and some rare shotmaking from the Pacers in the clutch.
The Purple and Gold should easily be able to overcome the Nets, similar to their February matchup. Marcus Smart remains sidelined for the Lakers along with Adou Thiero, while Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are questionable.
Nets vs. Lakers Betting Tips
Luka Doncic is favored to score under 33.5 points.
LeBron James is favored to score over 21.5 points.
Nic Claxton is favored to grab under 5.5 rebounds.
Nets vs. Lakers Starting Lineups
Nets
PG – Ben Saraf, SG – Drake Powell, SF – Terance Mann, PF – Ziaire Williams, C – Nic Claxton
Lakers
PG – Luka Doncic*, SG – Austin Reaves, SF – Jake LaRavia, PF – LeBron James, C – Deandre Ayton
Nets vs. Lakers Prediction
The Los Angeles Lakers are the overwhelming favorites with oddsmakers predicting them to win by 17 points. Even if Luka Doncic sits, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the team has enough firepower to close the Brooklyn Nets, who are without the likes of Michael Porter Jr. and Day’Ron Sharpe.
