On tonight’s small, three-game slate, the Brooklyn Nets have a marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. They’ll tip-off as the nightcap to the battle between the Raptors and Bucks. If you’re looking to get some skin in the game, keep reading for a breakdown of the NBA betting picks market and for information on the key trends and projections for this evening’s matchup
NBA Betting Picks, Odds & Betting Trends | Nets vs. Lakers
Nets vs. Lakers Game Info
Brooklyn Nets (18-12) at Los Angeles Lakers (22-7)
Date:Â Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021
Start Time: 10 p.m. EST
Venue: STAPLES Center — Los Angeles, Calif.
Coverage: TNT
These two teams will enter this matchup without a key player; the Nets won’t have Kevin Durant, and the Lakers won’t have Anthony Davis. The Nets have played well despite Durant’s absence, as they recently toppled the Suns by 4 points without him or Kyrie Irving. In contrast, the Lakers have struggled a bit because of Davis’ injury — they fell to the Nuggets and played the Timberwolves closer than they should’ve. The Thunder even brought them to overtime — twice.
The trends against the spread don’t point to much value. The Lakers rank as the 17th-best team against the spread, and they sport a 14-15 record against the spread. They’ve fallen off considerably since the start of the year. The Nets haven’t been great against the spread, either, as their 14-16 record ranks 20th against the spread. That said, Brooklyn is 6-3 against the spread when listed as an underdog.
The game total trends could not point to less value. The Nets have the highest over percentage in the NBA (73.3%), while the Lakers have the second lowest (37.9%). With such inconclusive trends, perhaps some projections could shed more light on tonight’s matchup.
My NBA betting model, which uses data on possessions per game, offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency projects a point total of 230.1 — and it favors the Nets by three points. The model weighs recent performances heavily, which explains why it undervalues the Lakers so much, as they have struggled without Davis. Ultimately I expect those struggles to continue tonight.
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Nets vs. Lakers NBA Betting Against the Spread Picks + Odds Shopping
If you agree with the trends and my projections, the Nets are currently posted as three-point underdogs at a few books: FanDuel Sportsbook, PointsBet and William Hill. All three have the same juice on this line. Should you disagree and lean Los Angeles, head over to BetRivers or DraftKings to get them as just 2.5-point favorites. If you expect the Lakers to win by at least four — and you’re not afraid of a push — head over to FanDuel Sportsbook, PointsBet or William Hill for moderately better juice.
As always, these lines can (and will) move as tip-off gets nearer, so make sure to double-check OddsShopper to confirm that you’re getting the best deal.
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Nets vs. Lakers NBA Betting Over/Under Picks + Odds Shopping
Well, my projected total (230.1) doesn’t point to much value here, does it? With the trends also in heavy disagreement, I don’t really have much of a read on this line. If you favor the under, head over to PointsBet for the best juice (-105). If you favor the over, both FanDuel Sportsbook and William Hill have better juice (-110). I expect this line to move somewhat as the night moves along, and you can visit OddsShopper to see the most recent lines and totals.
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