The Los Angeles Lakers open their season against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 22, 2019 at the Staples Center. And the best NBA betting sites have released their betting odds for this game.
The Los Angeles Lakers reloaded last summer after missing the playoffs in year one of the LeBron James era. The Purple and Gold finally succeeded in getting big man Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans but they gave up Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and a 2019 first round pick to do so. The Lakers also signed the likes of Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Quinn Cook, and Dwight Howard to bolster their line-up. With LeBron James returning for a 17th season, the Lakers are among the early NBA betting favorites to win the NBA title.
With plenty of veteran presence around him, the Lakers hope that this is the line-up that is going to bring them to the Land of Promise. James failed to single-handedly carry the Lakers to the playoffs last year after he missed a significant number of games due to injury. With James healthy, Kyle Kuzma expected to be wiser and stronger plus the addition of Anthony Davis, the Lakers are confident heading to the season. Davis suffered a thumb injury in preseason but the MRI results were negative and he is expected to play in their season opener.
The Los Angeles Clippers won the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes. Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first ever NBA title last season while winning 2019 Finals MVP honors. But Leonard left after the celebration and it was first rumored that he could be going to the Lakers. However, the Klaw spurned the purple and gold and signed with their cross-town rival Clippers. To ensure that Leonard signed with them, the Clippers engineered a trade for Paul George from the OKC Thunder.
In getting PG13, the Clippers lost Danilo Gallinari and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. However, with the likes of 6th man supreme Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley and former Lakers big man Ivica Zubac providing support, the Clippers are the top favorites to win the NBA title this year. LA also added the likes of Landry Shamet, Maurice Harkless, JaMychal Green and Rudy McGruder for more depth. The problem for the Clippers is that George will not play in this game as he is expected to miss at least the first 10 games of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Lakers are 7-13 SU in their last 20 games played. The Purple and Gold are 3-11 SU in their last 14 games played on the road. The Clippers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played, 2-6 SU in their last 8 games against the Pacific Division and 15-5 SU in their last 20 October games played. Head to head, the Clippers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 meetings.
The Clippers opened as betting favorites here but the spread odds have moved to even following the announcement that Paul George is going to miss the start of the season. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis had a scare after he injured his thumb in their China series against the Brooklyn Nets. However, the MRI turned negative and barring any other misfortune, he is going to suit up in this opener.
This is just the first game of an 82-game season. But for these two teams, it’s going to be important because it is going to set the tone for the season. These are two of the NBA betting favorites to win the next Larry O’Brien trophy and they are both from L.A. This is a game for bragging rights. LeBron, AD, and the big Lakers lineup are going to lord it over the PG13-less Clippers. Round One goes to the Lakers.
PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 against the Western Conference and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games played in October. The Clippers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games played. 4-2 ATS in their last six Tuesday games and 1-5 ATS in their last six home games played. Head to head, the Clippers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings but the Lakers are 2-1 ATS in their last three encounters.
The Clippers have outscored the Lakers by an average of 6.8 points per game in their last 10 games played but both these teams have scored a total of 350 points each in their last three meetings. You can throw off these historical numbers. For one, the odds have these teams at Pk or even. Second, both teams have new personalities with AD joining the Lakers and Kawhi/PG 13 playing for the Clippers. As I said in the prediction, I think the absence of Paul George is going to affect the Clippers here. Give me the Lakers to win this opening game.
PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES LAKERS PK (-104)
The total has gone under in 11 out of the Lakers’ 15 games played. The under is also 5-1 in their last six games against the Pacific Division. The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by the Clippers. The LA Clippers have seen the total go over in four out of their last five games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the total has gone over in six out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams. The over is also 4-1 in the last five games between these teams with the Clippers as the home team.
These teams combined to score 226.3 points per game in their last 10 games played and 233.33 points per game in their last three meetings. When you have a game that has LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Lou Williams as top scorers, then you have to envision a wild west shootout. This is opening night and these are new teams trying to fit the new pieces. I don’t expect a playoff-type defensive battle. Look for these teams to show off on offense. The opening line here was at 227.5 total points. I think any figure below 230 points is a good bet here.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
