LA Lakers (36-9) at Philadelphia (29-17)
When: Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Where: Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -4.5/216.5
The Philadelphia 76ers are already dealing without star center Joel Embiid and had another key member go down Wednesday in Toronto. The Sixers will have their hands full on ABC’s Saturday Night Showcase when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. Philadelphia, which had won four straight before falling 107-95 to Toronto on Wednesday, will not have Embiid back until next week and star shooting guard Josh Richardson (hamstring) for at least two weeks. The 76ers own the best home record in the NBA this season with a 20-2 mark at Wells Fargo Center and haven’t lost there since Dec. 20. However, Philly is just 8-7 against Western Conference opponents and 2-4 straight up and 1-5 against the spread after a loss by 10 points or more. Los Angeles is coming off back-to-back wins over a pair of New York-based teams in the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets and conclude their five-game road trip Saturday. The Lakers are an NBA-best 20-4 away from home this season and are also an impressive 13-5 against Eastern Conference opponents but is just 8-10 against the spread in those games. Philadelphia swept the two-game series last season, including a 143-120 victory at home and have covered four of the last five.
LeBron James has a chance to pass Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list on Saturday. James, who averages 25.2 points, needs 18 to surpass Bryant’s career total of 33,643. James was announced as an All-Star captain on Thursday, then went out and recorded a triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists) to lead his Lakers to a 128-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Anthony Davis had 16 points and 11 boards in just 26 minutes of action as he works his way back from injury (tailbone). Dwight Howard added 14 points and 12 assists on the second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers return home to face the Clippers on Tuesday.
The 76ers were shut down by the Raptors on Wednesday, shooting 38.1 percent from the floor but did knock down 18 three-pointers to keep the game close. Tobias Harris had a team-high 22 points but shot just 7-of-18 from the field, while Ben Simmons had an efficient 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Center Al Horford did help much, shooting just 3-of-11 from the field for seven points. The team is just 6-7 in their last 13 games and are averaging just 104.0 points per game in that stretch – second-fewest in the NBA. Shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz played 27 minutes on Wednesday because of Richardson’s injury and finished with 17 points while going 4-of-8 from 3-point territory. Philly will host Golden State on Tuesday.
The Sixers are one of the best home teams in the league, but they’re missing two key players. Philadelphia’s last four wins came against teams with losing records, while their last six losses have come against winning teams. The Lakers are not afraid of the road (20-4) and should have the manpower to take down the Sixers tonight.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Saturday. He is 47-43-3 on the season!
Pick: Lakers -4.5
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 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 road games.
Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite.
Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Lakers are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog.
76ers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
76ers are 36-17 ATS in their last 53 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
76ers are 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
76ers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
76ers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
76ers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
76ers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 2 days rest.
76ers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 games following a straight up win.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 overall.
Over is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Lakers last 7 road games.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 Saturday games.
Over is 11-4-1 in Lakers last 16 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 6-0 in 76ers last 6 games as an underdog.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 home games.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in 76ers last 11 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 12-5-1 in 76ers last 18 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 games as a home underdog.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Lakers are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Philadelphia.
