Free NBA Pick: Nets vs. Lakers NBA Odds
Looking for Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Nets taking on the Lakers on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Staples Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Nets Lakers matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(18-12) Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (22-7)
Date: Thursday, February 18
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: Lakers -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 238.5
Thursday, February 18, the Brooklyn Nets will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first meeting of this season. Unfortunately, superstar injuries won’t give a full picture of what was slated as a potential NBA Finals preview.
Both teams played and won on Tuesday. The Lakers defeated the Wolves 112-104 while the Nets beat the Suns 128-124.
The Lakers hold the all-time record having won 65 matches of the 91 played. Last season, the squads played twice each winning one contest.
Brooklyn Nets
Entering the match Tuesday, the Nets were facing a Suns squad who had won six in a row and nine of their last 10 games. Brooklyn was without Kevin Durant (hamstring) and Kyrie Irving (back tightness).
The Nets were down by 21 points at the half and the situation looked dire as the lead ballooned to 24 in the third frame.
But, the other superstar James Harden reminded everyone he knows how to do more than dish dimes.
Harden ran the show posting 38 points with 11 assists and hit 5 of 11 from deep as the Nets clawed back scoring 74 points in the second half to collect a 128-124 win.
Joe Harris was also instrumental as he scored 22 points including 17 in the second half and drilled four 3-points on nine attempts.
The Brooklyn bench took a hit with the Harden trade and dropped from 22nd to 29th in bench points but without KD and Irving the Nets reserves stepped up scoring 40 points versus the Suns.
Irving is probable while Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) is questionable for Thursday. Durant and Iman Shumpert who both have hamstring injuries are listed as day-to-day.
Nicolas Claxton (knee) is out until month-end and Spencer Dinwiddie (knee) is out for the season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Last week the Lakers were lucky to grab victories in games facing lower-tier and severely shorthanded opponents.
Their luck ran out as the Nuggets ended the Lakers’ seven-game win streak plus they lost Anthony Davis for the next two weeks to a strained calf. This is on top of the Achilles tendinosis that caused him to miss two prior games.
These nagging Davis leg issues remind me of when Kevin Durant was dealing with a calf injury and other leg problems and rushed back only to suffer a torn Achilles.
Not that every injury is the same but it would behoove the Lakers to exercise caution and patience.
Also, the Lakers defense isn’t nearly as robust without Davis. Heading into the match on Tuesday the Lakers had trailed by double digits in five of their prior six games.
Davis (calf) and Kostas Antetokounmpo (right knee tendinitis) and out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Lakers are 6-4 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Lakers are 5-4-1 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 3-7 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
Free Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Prediction:
There’s no need for LA to push for the top seed if it means LeBron James will end up fatigued by season end. With a 13-3 road record it’s conceivable home court isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: LeBron —er— Lakers ATS
It’s telling the Nets said KD would miss “two games” which means the hope was he would play in LA. The Nets have bad losses to lottery teams but excel versus +.500 squads. The potential absences due to injury take a little shine off this match and the separate Kyrie/KD rivalries versus LeBron.
That said, I think KD and Kyrie play and LeBron likely had this marked on the schedule even prior to the Harden trade!
NBA Free Prediction: Lakers 119 – Nets 115 (Bet Now!)
If you’re looking for more NBA picks like this Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire 2021 NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA predictions!
Register here for a FREE NBA Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!