NBA Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 03-09-2019, 20:30 EDT

Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +4.5

Total: +220.5

Two teams from opposing conferences with playoff hopes for the season but only one achieving it so far, the 5^th in the East Boston Celtics, looking to extend their current small winning streak, are visiting the 10^th in the West Los Angeles Lakers, who want to extend a losing streak of their own.

Celtics are 40-26 so far in the league and are sitting on the fifth place of the Eastern Conference. They are 3-1 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Sacramento on the road, 111-109. Lakers are 30-35 so far in the league and are tied with Minnesota on the tenth place of the Western Conference. They are 1-6 in their last 7 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Denver at home, 99-115.

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Boston are led in scoring by Kyrie Irving with 23.4 ppg. He also adds 4.9 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 7 per game, while Jayson Tatum follows with 16.3 ppg, adding 6.2 rebounds per game. Marcus Morris adds 14.2 ppg and 6 rebounds per game. LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 27.1 ppg. He also adds 8 assists and leads the team in rebounding with 8.6 per game, while Kyle Kuzma follows with 18.8 ppg, adding 5.6 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 18.3 ppg and 5.1 rebounds per game.

This will be the second meeting between those two teams so far with LA having won the previous one on the road by one point. LA are 18-15 at home, while Boston are 16-16 on the road. They have almost identical offenses with 112.2 and 112.1 ppg, while Boston have a better defense, allowing 106.6 ppg to LA’s 113.9. LA have a better accuracy from the field (47.4% to 46.4%), while Boston have a better accuracy from behind the arc (36.5% to 33.5%). LA are better in rebounding (46.4 to 44.8), while Boston are better assists per game (26.3 to 25.3) and they commit fewer turnovers per game (12.7 to 15.2). LA have been struggling lately and they don’t pose a threat to a better Boston squad even at home.

Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction: Boston Celtics -4.5 (-112)