The Boston Celtics will go for win no. 2 this season against arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers this Wednesday. Will the Celtics beat LA again? Or, will the Lakers return the favor to Boston this time around?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, December 8, at 11 AM, Manila time
Away: Boston Celtics (13-11/7-7 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Marcus Smart
- SG: Jaylen Brown (questionable)
- SF: Jayson Tatum
- PF: Al Horford
- C: Robert Williams
Boston’s offense has been on fire of late, and it’s never been hotter than in the team’s 145-117 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers last Sunday. The Celtics didn’t just win that game, but also covered the spread by a wide margin, thus improving their record to 10-4 against the spread in games away from home, so far this season. Boston won that game despite missing the services of Jaylen Brown, who sat out the contest, with the Celtics managing his recent hamstring injury.
Brown is considered questionable to play against the Lakers, though the Celtics didn’t need him at all to blast LA in a 130-108 win at home back in November. In that game, Jayson Tatum exploded for 37 points, while former Lakers guard Dennis Schroder had some sort of revenge performance, scoring 21 points on 8/14 shooting from the field. The Celtics, who are averaging 108.9 points per game, are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning record at home.
Home: Los Angeles Lakers (12-12/8-7 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Wayne Ellington
- SF: LeBron James (probable)
- PF: Anthony Davis (probable)
- C: Dwight Howard
Los Angeles has put its fans on an emotional rollercoaster ride this season, as you could probably tell from their Facebook posts every after Lakers loss and win. The last time the Lakers were on the floor, they got whooped by the LA Clippers in a 119-115 home loss that slid them back down to .500. The good news for the Lakers is that LeBron James has returned after a one-game absence due to a false COVID-19 positive test, scoring 23 points to go with 11 rebounds and six assists in the loss to the Clippers.
James and Anthony Davis are both considered probably to play Wednesday, but the expectation is that the duo will be available in the rematch against Boston. The duo pumped out a total of 54 points in the first meeting with the Celtics this season. The Lakers’ defense, meanwhile, needs to improve this time to prevent Boston from torching them again inside the paint; the Celtics outscored the Lakers in the shaded area in the November meeting, 56-36. The Lakers are 5-4 ATS in their last nine home games against Boston, dating back to 2013.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Lakers have not covered the spread this season when coming off at least two days of rest. The Celtics cover (+3).
Over/Under: Strike the Over(220) while the Celtics’ offense is hot.
