Philadelphia (37-24) at LA Lakers (46-13)
When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020
Where: Staples Center,
Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -11.5/220
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t need two superstars to take down the upstart Zion Williamson-led New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday – they just needed LeBron James. The Lakers return home on Tuesday night to take on the road-inept Philadelphia 76ers in hopes of padding their lead in the Western Conference. Power forward Anthony Davis (knee) sat out L.A.’s 122-114 road win in New Orleans as James posted his 13th triple-double of the season with 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. The win followed a surprising 105-88 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies the night before that snapped the Lakers seven-game winning streak. They will take on a banged-up 76ers squad who will once again be without All-Stars Joel Embiid (shoulder) and Ben Simmons (back). Philadelphia has lost eight road games in a row after a 136-130 setback to the L.A. Clippers in the same building they will play in tonight. The Sixers are now a dismal 9-22 away from Wells Fargo Center and an even worse 8-21-2 against the spread despite Sunday’s cover. L.A. looks to snap a three-game losing streak in the series after dropping a 108-91 decision in Philadelphia on Jan. 25.
Philadelphia would have been blownout by the Clippers if it wasn’t for Shake Milton, who poured-in career highs of 39 points and seven 3-pointers. Milton is averaging 8.8 points in 28 games (12 starts) with the 76ers and should see increased playing time with his play on Sunday and with Simmons out of the lineup. Shooting guard Josh Richardson (concussion) left Sunday’s game against the Clippers and have been ruled out for Tuesday. The Sixers, who are only a half-game ahead of Indiana for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, will be at Sacramento on Thursday before concluding their four-game trip at Golden State on Saturday.
Los Angeles has recently beat pretty good teams like Denver on the road, Boston at home and will have a brutal week beginning Tuesday. The Lakers have the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks later this week then will play the Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday as the road team. Davis is scheduled to be back on the court versus the 76ers and his 26.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per contest. James is averaging 25.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-best 10.6 assists on the season and seems to be getting stronger as the season wears on. Reserve point guard Alex Caruso (hamstring) could miss his second straight game. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
The Sixers put up a good fight on Sunday at Staples Center, but won’t even come close in this one. James is on fire lately and Davis will be back in the lineup. I don’t know how Philly will be able to slow them down and score enough to keep up.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Tuesday. He is 68-53-3 on the season after a 9-2 run!
Pick: Lakers -11.5
76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.
76ers are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
76ers are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 road games.
76ers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
76ers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
76ers are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog.
76ers are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.
Lakers are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 games playing on 1 days rest.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 10-2 in 76ers last 12 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 10-2 in 76ers last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 Tuesday games.
Under is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 games as a road underdog.
Under is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 8-3 in 76ers last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 10-4 in 76ers last 14 road games.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 home games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Lakers last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 19-7 in Lakers last 26 Tuesday games.
Under is 40-17 in Lakers last 57 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 7-3 in Lakers last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 42-19 in Lakers last 61 games as a home favorite.
Over is 13-6 in Lakers last 19 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings.
76ers are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Los Angeles.
76ers are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
