2023 NBA Betting Experts Picks, Odds News & Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers have been listing LeBron James as questionable on the injury report most of the season as he has been battling a left ankle injury. However, LeBron has been playing through it and was magnificent on Saturday night in 44 minutes with 41 points in an overtime loss at NBA-best Boston. LeBron was clearly fouled on a drive to the basket with time running out in regulation and the game tied but the referees missed a foul that would have put him on the line to win the game.

Here we bring you all the information for your NBA Betting.

Lakers’ LeBron James Resumes Chase of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Knicks

Off that highly charged game and having played so many minutes, LeBron did get Monday’s game in Brooklyn off as did Anthony Davis and to no surprise the Lakers lost by double digits. Both will be back in action tonight as the Lakers visit storied Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks, who opened at -2 on the NBA odds. Davis isn’t going to play both ends of a back-to-back the rest of the season off his own foot injury that cost him several weeks on the sideline.

Because LeBron took a game off, he’s now favored to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader next Tuesday at home vs. Oklahoma City. LeBron is 117 points from breaking the mark and is averaging 30.2 points per game this season. It’s the fourth highest scoring average of James’ career. Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA MVP, netted 38,387 career points in 20 seasons as a center with the Bucks and Lakers from 1969-89. He did that in 1,560 games.

James has played in 1,406 games. LeBron will absolutely want to break the mark at home so it should either come against the Thunder – barring injury – or Feb. 9 in LA vs. Milwaukee. Then the Lakers go on a long road trip.

The points record has changed hands just once since 1966; Abdul-Jabbar has held it since before LeBron was even born. By the time LeBron retires, the career points record should be well north of 40,000, and probably untouchable. He has said that he hopes to stick around long enough to play in the league with his son Bronny, who is a high school senior and collegiate prospect in Southern California.

James will also soon move into the Top 5 in NBA history in career assists. With 10,327 career dimes, he is seven behind No. 5 Mark Jackson and eight back of No. 4 Steve Nash. John Stockton (15,806), Jason Kidd (12,091) and Suns guard Chris Paul (11,237 and counting) would still be ahead of him.

Expect a big game tonight as LeBron loves Madison Square Garden. He hasn’t played there since Jan. 22, 2020. On Feb. 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant scored a Madison Square Garden record 61 points on 19-of-31 shooting while converting all 20 of his free throw attempts. Doubt LeBron can break that record.

The Knicks also come off a loss to Brooklyn, albeit on Saturday so they are well-rested. Before that defeat, New York had won consecutive games against Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland and Boston.

Julius Randle was drafted 7th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Lakers. Randle spent four seasons with the team (2014-18). He ranks 10th in points (24.6 points) and 3rd in rebounds (10.9 rebounds) in the Eastern Conference and is one of three players in the NBA averaging at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic). Randle is third in the NBA with 30 double-doubles and has nine games of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Knicks and Lakers. Dating back to the Minneapolis era, this will be the 296th meeting between the two sides and the 205th since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season. The Lakers lead 171-124 but are 62-73 on the road.