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The Saturday primetime matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets could be a NBA Finals preview. If the teams do make it that far they’ll look much different than they do currently. The Lakers are trying to stay afloat as they continue to navigate the waters without Anthony Davis and LeBron James. They are 4-6 since James tweaked an ankle. The Nets can’t seem to get their big three on the court together. Just when Kevin Durant returns to the lineup James Harden is shelved with a bad hammy. Hopefully for both teams the rosters are intact come playoff time because a Finals matchup between them would be fun to see. Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1600).
Los Angeles Lakers at Brooklyn Nets
Date and Time: Saturday, April 10, 2021, 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Opening NBA Odds: (Check Back Later)
Lakers at Nets TV Coverage: ABC
Odds Analysis
The struggles continue for the Lakers, who lost for the sixth time in 10 games without LeBron. The good news is that both James and Davis are progressing in their rehab from injuries and should be back in the lineup soon, but it’s been a tough road. How tough you ask? Well, they were 9.5-point underdogs to Miami, a team just one-game above .500, on Wednesday. The Lakers were dogs in three of their last four games going 3-1 ATS. While they are currently not in danger of missing the postseason, they continue their descent in the Western Conference standings. They are just 4-7 SU and ATS over their last 11 games. The Nets welcomed back Kevin Durant posting their highest point total in nearly two months in their 139-114 blasting of the Pelicans. It was also a rare payout win for the Eastern Conference leaders. Despite going 11-3 SU in their last 14 games the Nets are just 4-10 ATS. The Nets took over the top spot in the East with a 36-16 SU and 25-27 ATS record.
Los Angeles Lakers
With their two stars sidelined by injury the Lakers can’t afford to lose anyone else. Well, they did against Miami in their last game. Kyle Kuzma sat with a leg injury, Talen Horton-Walker served a one-game suspension and Markieff Morris was ejected from the contest leaving LA with few options. They played tough and had a second half lead, but they couldn’t close the deal. While they continue to be one of the better defensive clubs in the NBA, the Lakers just can’t generate enough offense without their top two scorers to compete on a consistent basis. Including the game James was injured they are averaging just 100.7 points in 11 contests and were held to fewer than 100 points in five of those games. Their season average has dipped to 109.9 and the UNDER is 8-3 over that stretch.
Playing a full game in a Lakers uniform for the first time we saw what Andre Drummond can do. Returning from a four-game absence following a toe injury in his team debut, the big fella scored 15 points with 12 rebounds in 27 minutes. The points-by-committee approach worked in a win over Toronto and all five starters reached double figures against the Heat with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope going for 28. However, they lack the killer instinct without AD and definitely without LeBron.
Brooklyn Nets
When we do see the big three together on the court at same time we better enjoy it. The acquisition of James Harden sped up the Nets ascent in the East and they finally reached the top spot overtaking Philadelphia by winning two straight, six of seven and 14 of their last 17 games. Since adding Harden to the mix in mid-January the Nets are 29-10. Harden is out of the lineup for the next few weeks making the return of Durant that much more significant. In his first game in nearly two months KD looked as good as ever hitting all five field goals for 17 points with seven rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes in a 139-111 rout of New Orleans.
Durant didn’t play in the first meeting between the teams, a 109-98 Brooklyn cover in LA. And the Lakers were without AD and Dennis Schroeder so a lot of firepower was missing. The Lakers are thinner this time around allowing the Nets a great opportunity to collect another win. It might be more difficult without Harden, but recent acquisitions Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge have fit in seamlessly making the Nets the team to beat even if the big three isn’t all there.
Bet Lakers at Nets at BookMaker.eu
I think the only way Brooklyn doesn’t win this game is if they take the Lakers too lightly. That can happen without two of the best players in the NBA. LA is still a tough out and their defense makes them a formidable opponent. Brooklyn has some concerns defensively so I’m looking at the OVER with the visitors covering the line.
NBA Score Prediction: Nets 112, Lakers 107
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
