Lakers vs. Suns Picks, Prediction | In-Season Tournament Best Bet
Getty Images. Pictured: Kevin Durant (left) and LeBron James (right).
Lakers vs. Suns Picks, Prediction | In-Season Tournament Best Bet
Here's everything you need to know about Lakers vs. Suns on Tuesday, Dec. 5 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.
The Los Angeles Lakers (12-9) and Phoenix Suns (12-8) face each other for the third time this season in the inaugural Western Conference in-season tournament quarterfinals.
Will the Lakers find a way to get past the Suns again to advance, or will the duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker be too much of an uphill battle for L.A.?
Let's get to our Lakers vs. Suns prediction and pick.
Lakers vs Suns Prediction
Pick: Suns +2
The Lakers are 8-2 at home this season and are coming off a 20-point win over the Houston Rockets.
Los Angeles is averaging 112.5 points per game, while the Suns are putting up 116.2 points per outing — the fourth-best mark in the Western Conference.
The last matchup between these teams saw 241 points, as the Lakers came out on top, 122-119. The total for tonight’s meeting sits at 227.5, which should be easily surpassed considering the Suns rank in the bottom half of the league in Defensive Rating.
Booker, who's averaging 27.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, will be available tonight for his first look at the Lakers this season.
While Durant moved into the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, Booker will be the key for the Suns to come out on top in Los Angeles.
Phoenix is 2-2 against division opponents, with both losses coming against the Lakers. However, Booker didn't play in those games.
Booker comes into the quarterfinals off a 34-point, 10-rebound performance against the Grizzlies after missing two games earlier in the season with an ankle sprain.
Lakers vs Suns Picks, Odds
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | +100 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | -118 |
The Suns are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and the Lakers have yet to play against both Durant and Booker since Durant arrived in Phonix last season.
L.A. will need to pull out all the stops to contain the duo that averages 58.9 points per game — something that's easier said than done.
The winner will go on to play the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals on Thursday, Dec. 7 in Las Vegas, and it's looking like the Suns will be that team.
Pick: Suns +1.5
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