While the Los Angeles Lakers undoubtedly won this weekend’s shocking blockbuster of a trade, it may have compromised them in the short term. Just who does Los Angeles expect to play in the post? Who is going to corral rebounds?
That is the wrong weakness to have against the Los Angeles Clippers, so my Lakers vs. Clippers predictions will focus on Ivica Zubac’s nose for rebounds tonight. Tip comes at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 4.
Lakers vs Clippers prediction
My best bet
Ivica Zubac Over 12.5 rebounds (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
Soon enough, Luka Doncic’s penchant for triple-doubles will help the Los Angeles Lakers on the glass, and Maxi Kleber’s 6-foot-10 frame will find some boards by default.
But neither is available tonight, so the only real effect of Saturday night’s trade is that Anthony Davis is no longer a Laker. Thus, LA currently has no reliable rebounders aside from LeBron James.
Jarred Vanderbilt is slowly working his way back into the rotation after missing the entire season up until a week ago. He should not be counted on for more than 15 or 16 minutes just yet.
The Lakers may need to start Jaxson Hayes at center, certainly looking to him for 20-25 minutes, if not more, without Davis around.
That leaves James’s 12.4% rebounding rate, ahead of Rui Hachimura’s 9.1%. For context, Davis was at 19.7%. The Lakers simply do not have a big body to trust to crash the glass.
Enter Los Angeles Clippers’ center Ivica Zubac, enjoying career highs in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, and steals per game. The nine-year veteran is averaging 12.7 rpg this season, 13.0 rpg in the last two months, and 13.4 rpg over the last month.
He has cleared this prop in 11 of his last 22 games, and the Lakers’ short-term shortcomings should assure Zubac makes that 12 of 23.
Lakers vs Clippers same-game parlay
Ivica Zubac Over 12.5 rebounds
Ivica Zubac Over 14.5 points
Clippers moneyline
In the last two months, Zubac has topped this points prop in 13 of 23 games. He is not often thought of as a scorer, but Zubac has been living on the boards too much to not then score. He has hauled in 13.4% of available offensive rebounds this season, the sixth-highest rate in the league.
Against a Lakers rotation lacking a pertinent big man, Zubac should live on the offensive glass again, and turning missed shots into buckets is a great way to assure a Clippers victory.
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Lakers vs Clippers odds
Lakers vs Clippers live odds
Lakers vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: LAL +6 | LAC -6
- Moneyline: LAL +200 | LAC -245
- Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Lakers vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Clippers opened as six-point favorites on Monday night, climbing to -8 by sunrise and then -8.5 early on Tuesday morning.
- The total opened at 216.5 and reached 221 before the sun even came up, an aggressive move but one indicative of the defensive dropoff when a team loses Anthony Davis.
- That climb in the total may also reflect that the Clippers have gone Over their totals in each of their last three games, as have the Lakers.
Lakers vs Clippers trend
At 29-19-1 against the spread this season, the Clippers are on pace to have the best ATS record in the NBA since sports betting became regulated in the U.S., since at least 2017-18. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Lakers vs Clippers
| Location | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
| Date | Tuesday, 2-4-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
Lakers vs Clippers latest injuries
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