Lakers vs Celtics NBA Betting Odds Preview & Pick

One of the great rivalries in professional sports is renewed on Thursday night in the NBA as the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Boston Celtics with LA looking to avoid the season sweep, but Boston is a huge favorite on the NBA odds – the biggest in this series in seven years. 2024 NBA Expert Analysis Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 15

Where: TD Garden
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com

Why Bet on Los Angeles Lakers?

The Lakers have looked bad in both games this week, losing 135-119 in Houston on Monday and then playing without Anthony Davis on Tuesday and losing 138-122 as the pressure mounts on Coach Darvin Ham. Davis is questionable for Thursday but probably plays. If not, Jaxson Hayes likely starts again. He made his second start of the season against Atlanta and had six points, six rebounds, one assist, one block and four steals over 24 minutes.

To Lakers fans’ surprise, Ham bypassed Christian Wood, who signed with the Lakers in September and has served as the team’s backup center, in favor of Hayes. Wood hopped on Twitter soon after the news became public and just before the game got going, voicing his frustration with Ham’s decision with a simple post reading “lol.” Wood ended up getting the last laugh, as he dropped nine points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Maybe he starts this one after all. Ham said he wanted to keep Wood in his typical role and added that lineups aren’t a “popularity contest” and are about what’s best for the team.”

LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Atlanta as he has now scored at least 20 points for the eighth straight game, averaging 25.8 points, 8.8 boards and 8.3 assists over that stretch while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 43.9 percent from beyond the arc. The loss dropped LA to 24-25. Defense has been a major issue for L.A. in recent games, as the Lakers surrendered at least 135 points in each of the past four contests. They rank a pedestrian 20th defensively with 117.6 points allowed per game.

“We could, on any given night, beat any team in the NBA. And then, on any given night, we could get our ass kicked by any team in the NBA,” LeBron said. “I don’t have any message for my teammates. Just go out and do your job.”

In reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt’s mind, the Lakers’ issue is that they are not starting games with a locked in defensive mindset, perhaps a signal to the coaching staff that he feels he should return to that starting lineup: “We just got to lock in on both ends for 48 minutes. I think we should be a defensive-minded team to start the game.”

Week 15 NBA Game Picks Odds Subject to Change	SPREAD	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
Boston	-10.5	-550	U 240.5
Los Angeles	+10.5	+400	O 240.5

Why Bet on Boston Celtics?

The Celtics have won two straight and edged visiting Indiana 129-124 on Tuesday. The Celtics led by 20 points late in the first half, but Indiana rallied and trailed 127-124 when Derrick White blocked a tying 3-point attempt by Aaron Nesmith. Jayson Tatum then denied an attempt by Myles Turner at the rim with 29.3 seconds left, leading to a shot-clock violation. Jrue Holiday extended Boston’s lead with two free throws and that was that. Holiday said the Celtics got a reminder that they’ll have to find different ways to close out opponents.

“We’ve got to be able to fight through everything,” he said. “Fight through expectations. Fight through being up 20 and somebody having a great third quarter and finishing games. If it was easy the whole time, what’s the fun in that?”

Among all centers, Horford ranks 9th in made three-pointers (64) and is the only one with 100+ assists and less than 35 turnovers this season.