The San Antonio Spurs (28-38) and the Los Angeles Lakers (41-25) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will be available to watch on NBA League Pass.
The Lakers are 8.5-point favorites over the Spurs on the spread (Lakers -8.5), with the over/under set at 229 total points. Los Angeles is a -375 favorite to win outright, while San Antonio is +295 to pull off the upset.
Let’s get into my Spurs vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, March 17.
Spurs vs. Lakers Picks, Prediction
Over/Under
My Spurs vs. Lakers best bet is on Los Angeles to go Over its team total of 118.5 points, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Spread
I will not be betting either side of the spread in tonight's matchup.
My Pick: Lakers Team Total Over 118.5 Points (-112, DraftKings)
Spurs vs. Lakers Odds
| Spurs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | +295 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | -375 |
- Spurs vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -8.5
- Spurs vs. Lakers over/under: 229 total points
- Spurs vs. Lakers moneyline: Spurs +295, Lakers -375
- Spurs vs. Lakers best bet: Lakers Team Total Over 118.5 Points
Spurs vs. Lakers Preview
After a blistering six-week stretch before and after the Luka Doncic trade, the Lakers hit a rough patch. They are in the middle of a stretch of six games of eight games with tonight's game being rescheduled due to the wildfires in Southern California. They had lost four straight games and fell to the fifth spot in the Western Conference. Additionally, they are playing without the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James.
However, yesterday, the Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak with a 107-96 victory over the Suns. Doncic led the way with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists while Austin Reaves scored 28 points to go along with six assists. Tonight, the Lakers will look to extend their streak to two as a heavy home favorite against the Spurs.
The Spurs have hung around in the Play-In Tournament race all season and enter tonight's game 3.5 games out of the 10th seed. They looked poised to make another push after acquiring De'Aaron Fox just before the trade deadline. However, they lost their star center Victor Wembanyama for the season to a blood clot in his shoulder. They will also be without Fox for the remainder of this season as he is undergoing surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie.
The Spurs have lost nine of their last 13 games. With their top two options down for the rest of the season, the focus shifts to development and figuring who fits well around them going into next season. Stephon Castle is one player who fits into both categories.
The fourth overall pick in last year's draft, Castle has been a strong contributor all season. However, in March, he is averaging 20 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Castle is a heavy favorite to win Rookie of The Year.
Spurs vs. Lakers Betting Predictions
The Lakers have won eight of the last 10 meetings in this series and are 6-4 against the spread in that span. I lean towards them covering tonight, but Doncic has played just one back-to-back as a Laker and the team has not submitted an injury report tonight. Instead, I will back the Lakers with their team total.
The Lakers have scored at least 119 points against the Spurs in three of the last four and six of the last 10 meetings. Most of those games featured LeBron James and Anthony Davis-led teams. However, most teams are having their way with the Spurs defense right now.
Over the last 13 games, the Spurs are last in defensive rating and are three points worse than the next closest team. The Spurs have allowed at least 125 points in six of their last 10 games, including against the Hornets and shorthanded Mavericks.
The Lakers scored 126 points against Denver last Friday on the second night of a back-to-back without Doncic. However, Doncic's presence will obviously be preferred, including for tonight's parlay. Doncic has made at least three triples in eight straight games. In six of them, he has made at least four and he has attempted at least nine in all eight games.
Reaves has also been aggressive from deep as well, but he has filled up the stat sheet overall. In his last seven games without James, he is averaging 28.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists for nearly 44 PRA per game. He has also recorded at least 39 PRA in each of his last three games.
For the final leg, I will be backing Castle and he has scored 15 points in eight of his last 10 games. He has also scored 20 points in two of three games against the Lakers this season.
My Pick: Lakers Team Total Over 118.5 Points (-110)
Same Game Parlay Picks
- Luka Doncic 4+ Three-Pointers Made
- Austin Reaves Over 35.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
- Stephon Castle 15 Points
Parlay Payout: +290
Lakers vs. Spurs Betting Trends
