As the Los Angeles Lakers try to navigate their next few games without LeBron James, they have a matchup against the lowly Brooklyn Nets tonight, who are down leading scorer Cam Thomas due to a hamstring injury.
With both James and Thomas set to be sitting court side, and even Luka Doncic’s status up in the air, my Lakers vs. Nets predictions and NBA picks for Monday, March 10 expect points to be hard to come by in this cross conference matchup with a 7:30 p.m. ET tip.
Lakers vs Nets prediction
My best bet
Under 216.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Being down LeBron James is one thing, but if Luka Doncic can’t go, the Los Angeles Lakers offense will lack for explosiveness. The recently acquired star is listed as questionable with a back injury tonight, making him one of the key rotation players that’s either out or day to day.
Even if Doncic does play, he and Austin Reaves could have a harder time carrying this offense to a big output. The Lakers have averaged 107 points over their last two games, and while those matchups were against the mighty Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, they also had James on the court.
Without the ageless wonder, while also being down fellow starter Rui Hachimura and his backup Dorian Finney-Smith, Los Angeles is set to rely on its bench a little more than head coach JJ Redick would probably like. The team will have Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht — whom the team traded a month ago just to have it rescinded — playing starters minutes.
That should help the Brooklyn Nets’ defensive cause at home, and for as bad as they've been, they're still 11th in points allowed per game (111.6). By no means is this a good defense, but it’s giving up the ninth-fewest 3-pointers per game (13.1), the seventh-fewest 2-pointers per game (27.2), and opponents are getting off the second-fewest field-goal attempts (83.9).
That’s due in part to how slow Jordi Fernandez Torres’ offense slows the game down. The Nets are last in the NBA in pace (96.1), which is why they’re scoring the second-fewest PPG (105.1) with an offense that’s 27th in rating (108.8). So, the already short-handed Lakers shouldn’t have many problems against Brooklyn’s offense, especially with Thomas out.
The Nets’ most dynamic scorer is putting up 23.8 PPG and just returned from injury but is already out again. Without Thomas, Brooklyn doesn’t have a real threat, which will help an L.A. defense giving up the eighth-fewest PPG (111.1) shut the Nets down.
These teams have combined to go 70-55 betting the Under and will hit it again with so much starpower watching from the sidelines.
Lakers vs Nets same-game parlay
Under 216
D'Angelo Russell Under 15. points
Jaxson Hayes Under 9.5 points
Former Laker D’Angelo Russell is one of several Nets players that could have a tough time tonight. The Ohio State product has scored more than 15.5 points just three times in his last nine games while averaging 12.7 PPG.
Los Angeles has also had plenty of defensive success against point guards this season, allowing the third-fewest PPG to them (23.24). Another player with ties to the state of Ohio who could struggle in this one is Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes.
The 24-year-old is dealing with a knee injury and has scored fewer than 10 points in 33 of 40 games this season. Even with James out, I don’t expect much more offensive output for a center that’s scoring 6.4 PPG this season.
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Lakers vs Nets odds
Lakers vs Nets live odds
Lakers vs Nets opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles -5.5 (-110) | Brooklyn +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -225 | Brooklyn +185
- Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Lakers vs Nets spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Lakers opened as a 5.5-point road favorite with the line shifting another half point in Los Angeles’ direction despite LeBron James being out.
- The Lakers are among the best teams in the NBA ATS this season at 35-26-1 while the Nets aren’t too far behind at 32-30-1.
- The Over/Under opened as high as 217.5, but has steadily dropped down to as low as 215.5 with so many players potentially out.
- The Nets and Lakers are among the worst Over teams in the NBA with Brooklyn just 27-36 and Los Angeles 28-34.
Lakers vs Nets trend
The Brooklyn Nets have hit the team total Under in 19 of their last 22 games at home (+15.50 Units / 61% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Nets.
How to watch Lakers vs Nets
| Location | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY |
| Date | Monday, 3-10-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Spectrum SportsNet, YES |
Lakers vs Nets latest injuries
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