Brooklyn (29-34) at LA Lakers (49-13)
When: Tuesday, March 10th, 2020
Where: Staples Center,
Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: YES
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -12/223.5
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a brutal stretch of games versus championship contenders, but get a bit of a break on Tuesday when they host the 29-34 Brooklyn Nets. This has letdown written all over it. The Lakers hosted and beat the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks last Friday, then won as the road team in their own building Sunday versus the Clippers. L.A. will host Houston and Denver to close out this week. Next season, a Nets vs. Lakers contest will be a must-watch event with LeBron James and Anthony Davis battling Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Irving is out the rest of this season following shoulder surgery and Durant isn’t playing at all in 2019-20 as he rehabs his Achilles injury suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. The Nets are coming off a 110-107 home victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in Jacque Vaughn’s first game as interim coach after the club surprisingly parted ways with Kenny Atkinson on Saturday. Brooklyn is currently the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, a half-game over the Orlando Magic. Since the Nets entered the NBA in 1976, the Lakers have lost only six season series to them. It happened last year, but L.A. goes for the sweep this time as it won 128-113 in Brooklyn on Jan. 23. James recorded a triple-double of 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, while Davis had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Irving was healthy then and had 20 points, but the Nets were outscored by 26 points when he was on the court. Los Angeles is 6-4 straight up in the past 10 meetings and 5-3-2 ATS.
Reports were that Atkinson lost the locker room and that Irving was the loudest voice pushing for a change. Ty Lue and Mark Jackson are a couple of names being rumored to take over next season, when the Nets will be one of the favorites in the East. Spencer Dinwiddie recorded 24 points in Brooklyn’s win over Chicago on Sunday, while Caris LeVert chipped in 23 points. Vaughn made a change to the starting lineup, putting DeAndre Jordan in the first five and having Jarrett Allen come off the bench. Jordan responded with 11 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Allen had 11 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes and the team outrebounded the Bulls 50-31. LeVert is averaging 28.8 points while making 39-of-75 field-goal attempts over the past four games. Brooklyn’s four-game West Coast trip takes them to Golden State on Thursday.
James made the MVP race more interesting over the weekend by outplaying betting favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo and then Kawhi Leonard. The former MVP is averaging 30.3 points and 10.0 assists over his past nine games becoming the oldest player in league history to average at least 30 points and 10 assists over any nine-game stretch. Guard Avery Bradley established season highs of 24 points and six 3-pointers against the Clippers, while power forward Kyle Kuzma contributed eight points and 10 boards. The Lakers will host the Rockets on Thursday night.
I’m taking the Nets here because of the spot. The Lakers are sure to have a little letdown after two grueling games over the weekend. Brooklyn seems to play better without Irving and are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games as an underdog. Take the points.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Tuesday. He is 73-56-3 on the season after a 13-5 run!
Pick: Nets +11.5
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Nets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Nets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Tuesday games.
Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Lakers are 13-4-1 ATS in their last 18 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 6-1 in Nets last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 6-1-1 in Nets last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Nets last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Nets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Nets last 5 games as a road underdog.
Over is 7-3 in Nets last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-3 in Nets last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 9-4 in Nets last 13 games as an underdog.
Over is 38-18 in Nets last 56 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 12-4-1 in Lakers last 17 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 5-2 in Lakers last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Lakers last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Lakers last 7 home games.
Under is 17-7 in Lakers last 24 Tuesday games.
Under is 40-18 in Lakers last 58 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 43-20 in Lakers last 63 games as a home favorite.
Under is 14-6-1 in the last 21 meetings.
Nets are 6-2-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Los Angeles.
