NBA Odds: Nets (-2)
The Los Angeles Lakers (13-40) look to end their six-game losing streak when they take on the Brooklyn Nets (21-31) at the Staples Center. The game gets underway at 10:30 pm ET on Friday, Feb. 20 and will air on YES and TWC SN.
The Lakers lost to the Trail Blazers 102-86 in their last game. Jordan Clarkson finished with 17 points to lead the team. The Nets, meanwhile, are coming off a 95-86 loss at the hands of the Grizzlies in their last outing. Mason Plumlee had a solid game, accumulating his 11th double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Los Angeles is a small two-point underdog in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Lakers look to improve upon their records of 13-40 Straight Up (SU) and 23-28-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They have a record of 7-11 SU and 9-9 ATS versus the Eastern Conference.
On the other side, the Nets head into the game with records of 24-28 ATS and 21-31 SU. In Western Conference games, Brooklyn has gone 7-11 SU and 9-9 ATS.
This game marks the first time these teams will play this season. The last time the Lakers and the Nets played, Brooklyn won, but the Lakers still lead the head-to-head record, 9-1 SU, over the last 10 matchups. At 5-5, they are even bets ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Los Angeles held the edge in all three of these categories four times in the last 10 meetings. Brooklyn never did so in those games.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAL, ATS Winner – LAL
Notes
Brooklyn ranks 26th in points per game with 95.5, while Los Angeles ranks 30th in points allowed with an average of 106.2 given up.
Los Angeles ranks 30th in points allowed per home game (104.8 PPG), while Brooklyn ranks 24th in points per away game with 95.0.
When giving up fewer than 100 points, Brooklyn has a 17-14 record. When Los Angeles puts up fewer than 100, they are an underachieving 3-24.
Both Brooklyn and Los Angeles have losing records when they allow and score at least 100 points, respectively. The Nets are 4-17 in the former situation, and the Lakers are 10-16 in the latter.
The Lakers have a defensive rating of 108.0 (ranked 29th), while the Nets rank 24th for their offensive rating of 100.0.
Los Angeles has an average field goal percentage of 43.1%. Brooklyn is a poor 10-23 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Brooklyn Nets rank higher for their field goal percentage (17th) than their effective field goal percentage (21st), while the Los Angeles Lakers rank the same for both metrics (27th).
On average, the Los Angeles Lakers make 20.6 assists per game and the Brooklyn Nets make 20.6. Los Angeles is ranked 22nd, while Brooklyn is ranked 23rd.
The Los Angeles Lakers average 4.5 blocks per game for a rank of 20th. The Brooklyn Nets rank lower (23rd), earning 4.3 blocks each game.
Los Angeles is ranked eighth in offensive rebounding. Brooklyn ranks 16th in defensive rebounds.
On average, Los Angeles makes 7.2 steals per game. Brooklyn is a poor 10-24 when it gives up at least 7 steals.
