The Los Angeles Lakers secured their first win of 2021 against the Memphis Grizzlies last week and could get a second against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Both teams are 1-2 ahead of the Western Conference matchup and could improve to .500 with a victory. The 2020 champions have been underwhelming despite the latest version to their big three, but could bounce back against the rebuilding Spurs. LeBron James (ankle) is listed as questionable for the Lakers.
Tip-off at the AT&T Center is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is favored by 2,5 points in the latest Lakers vs. Spurs odds from Caesars Sportsbook, and the over-under is set at 223. Before making any Spurs vs. Lakers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model finished up almost $600 on its top-rated picks last season and enters Week 2 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 103-68 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Spurs. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Spurs vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Spurs spread: Lakers -2.5
- Lakers vs. Spurs over-under: 223 points
- Lakers vs. Spurs money line: Lakers -140, Spurs +120
- LAL: 0-3 ATS on the season
- SAS: 2-1 ATS on the season
Featured Game | San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers made a lot of noise over the offseason by making key acquisitions through trades and free-agent signings. Trading the Washington Wizards for star point guard Russell Westbrook was the most significant move Los Angeles made, but it also brought in a heap of well-known veterans and young, complementary pieces. Injuries to Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, and others have hurt the Lakers’ wing depth, though.
James and Anthony Davis are two of the NBA’s biggest stars, but haven’t been enough to make up for their team’s shortcomings. Westbrook has struggled to develop his role and chemistry on a new team, and the Lakers’ center rotation has gotten limited production from DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard. A win over the Spurs could be a confidence builder for Los Angeles, but there are still plenty of problems to address.
Why the Spurs can cover
The Spurs are still beginning what could be a lengthy rebuilding process, but started the season on a high note. San Antonio blew out the Orlando Magic before falling short against the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. Both opponents will almost certainly be in the playoff hunt, and Spurs lost by at least six points in each matchup.
Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Derrick White are powering an offense that’s averaging 117 points per game at home. While the Magic’s abysmal defense bolstered that average, the Lakers have a bottom-10 defensive rating through three games. San Antonio has been sturdy on defense, but it lacks the personnel to go toe to toe with a pair of superstars on paper.
How to make Spurs vs. Lakers picks
The model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 221 points. It also has generated a spread pick that hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Spurs? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread to back, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
