Lakers vs. Celtics Prediction
LeBron James suffered the worst loss in his career a few nights ago when the Lakers were routed 136-94 by the Pacers. Will L.A. look as lifeless tonight in Boston as it did in Indiana when the Lakers take on the Celtics at 8:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
581 Los Angeles Lakers at 582 Boston Celtics
8:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, February 7, 2019
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Celtics are 7-point favorites to beat the Lakers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 221.5 points and as of this writing, 73% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Celtics to cover the point spread.
Los Angeles Lakers Fantasy Spin
LeBron James (groin) is probable for Thursday vs. Boston. On Tuesday he just suffered the worst loss of his career to a Victor Oladipo-less Pacers team, and now he’ll head to TD Garden. It’ll be interesting to see what the roster looks like for LeBron tomorrow, but he could have a lack of depth and be very busy after the deadline. LeBron is not on a back-to-back set, so he should be good to go.
Boston Celtics Fantasy Spin
Jayson Tatum is expected to be a “major part” of the Anthony Davis trade talks this summer. While the Celtics won’t be able to get into the AD sweepstakes until the offseason, Danny Ainge and Dell Demps have reportedly been in contact with Ainge promising to be “aggressive” with his “wealth of draft and player assets” in a bid for Davis. It’s unclear if the Celtics have promised to include Tatum in the conversation, but he’s definitely the guy Demps will be going after. Some of this will hinge on what Kyrie Irving decides to do this summer, but the Celtics are reportedly “cautiously optimistic” that they can retain him.
NBA Betting Trends
Los Angeles
The Lakers are 4-16-1 against the spread in their last 21 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Boston
The Celtics have covered the spread in 16 of their last 21 home games versus an opponent with a losing road record.
Prediction
It’s hard to back a Lakers team that looked so disjointed and so listless a few nights ago. Perhaps the Anthony Davis rumors have fractured the locker room or, at the very least, provided a major distraction for the young players on this L.A. roster. Whatever the case, I’m taking Boston tonight. The Celtics are 37-17 against the spread in their last 54 home games and have covered in four of their last five games following an ATS loss. The Lakers, meanwhile, are just 2-5 at the betting window in their last seven games versus an opponent with a win percentage above .600.
Thursday NBA Prediction: Boston Celtics -7