NBA

Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and prediction

USA Today Sportsbookwire

The Los Angeles Lakers (37-30) host the Phoenix Suns (48-19) Sunday at Staples Center for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Suns-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

Phoenix won six of its last seven games, including a 128-105 beatdown of the New York Knicks as a 6.5-point home favorite Friday. The Suns trail the first-place Utah Jazz by 1.5 games for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs in PG Chris Paul's first season in Phoenix.

L.A. is in a freefall off of back-to-back losses at the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers lost five of their past six games and eight of their last 10 while going 2-7-1 against the spread.

The defending champion Lakers currently hold the 7-seed in the Western Conference and are 1.5 games behind the Blazers.

Phoenix is going for the season sweep of L.A. as the Suns won the first two meetings. The Lakers didn't have SF LeBron James or PF Anthony Davis for the most recent head-to-head meeting. Davis missed both matchups.

Suns at Lakers: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Money line : Suns -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Lakers +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
Against the spread/ATS : Suns -7 (-115) | Lakers +7 (-105)
Over/Under : 214.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Suns at Lakers: Key injuries

Suns

PF Cameron Johnson (wrist) out

Lakers

PF Anthony Davis (calf) probable
SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) probable
C Marc Gasol (finger) probable
PG Alex Caruso (foot) questionable
SF Talen Horton-Tucker (calf) questionable
SF Kyle Kuzma (back) doubtful
SF LeBron James (ankle) out
SG Dennis Schroder (health and safety protocols) out

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Suns at Lakers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Suns 112, Lakers 108

Money line (ML)

PASS because there's no way I'd bet the Suns (-300) to win outright at that price even if Phoenix is the right side.

This is a semi must-win game for the Lakers (+240) and I'd love to sprinkle on their money line but, at the moment, it's a toss-up as to who's going to actually suit up for L.A. Stick with the spread.

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Against the spread (ATS)

"LEAN" to the LAKERS +7 (-105) currently but if A.D. and Caruso can play tonight then I "like" L.A. plus the points for a full unit.

The Lakers are more than likely headed to the play-in tournament and their current form is putrid. If you don't believe me then watch ESPN or Fox Sports' hot take shows for like 20 minutes.

However, L.A. getting a full touchdown at home with Davis most likely available is outrageous.

"The Brow" was called out by Shaq and Charles Barkley during "NBA on TNT" the other night and responded by ripping the Blazers for 36 points on 12-for-23 shooting with 12 rebounds and 5 assists Friday.

The Lakers still have the size advantage and should be able to win the interior battles (pending the final injury report) and this is the type of game Davis is supposed to take over with James out of the lineup.

BET LAKERS +7 (-105) for 1 unit if Davis and Caruso play; otherwise, stay away.

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS even though my predicted score would indicate there's some value in the Over 214.5 (-115). My buy-price for the Suns-Lakers total is "Over 211.5" and I don't want to budge on that.

Furthermore, both teams play at a below-average tempo with Phoenix running the fourth-slowest pace and each defense is top-7 in defensive rating.

If anything I'd prefer the Under because this should be a "rock fight" and L.A. would love to make this a sloppy game.

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