It's been a slow start for the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, two teams that had high hopes for this season. However, in the aftermath of Steve Nash stepping away from the team and Kyrie Irving being a distant distraction (at least for now), Brooklyn has seen improvements of late — going 4-2 since the coaching change.
Los Angeles has yet to have a moment where things have clicked. It is searching for an identity and needs shooting in the worst way. With LeBron James banged up and Russell Westbrook no longer a legitimate star, it needs Anthony Davis to be that transcendent talent it thought it acquired in 2019.
Find out the best options with our free NBA betting picks and predictions for the Nets vs. Lakers on Sunday, November 13.
Nets vs Lakers best odds
Nets vs Lakers picks and predictions
Los Angeles' ship is sinking, and the Nets are finding their rhythm under new head coach Jacque Vaughn. While the Lakers desperately need shooting to complement LeBron on the roster, that's an option that isn't available now. For now, they have to lean on what they have, and it’s still unbelievable to think Anthony Davis has become somewhat of an afterthought in the league's best-player debates.
While Davis may not be the transcendent player many deemed he would become when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, he is still an excellent player averaging 23.1 points per game on 53% shooting. Davis, who missed 42 games last year, is slowly getting back into his gear, and that should become even more noticeable with James likely out of the lineup with a left adductor strain.
AD is in a good spot here to have one of his season's best games. The Nets aren't a big intimidating team. They have nobody on the roster who should be able to deal with Davis' skill set at the power forward or center positions.
Brooklyn, as a team, defends well in the paint but has only really been challenged by a star big man once all season. That was Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 43 points in a game that felt like he could've easily touched 50. Davis won't have that level of dominance, but he should find great success.
The Nets will show signs of fatigue in the second game of a back-to-back. The Lakers must lean on Davis to keep this one close.
My best bet: Anthony Davis Over 24.5 points (-113)
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Nets vs Lakers spread analysis
We have two teams that are simply bad against the spread this season. The Nets have a struggling 4-7 ATS record, while the Lakers are at a downright awful 2-10 mark. L.A. is a lousy team no matter how you twist the narrative.
With Brooklyn in town for the second night on a back-to-back, this should be a prime opportunity for the Lakers to capitalize, but that's not likely. Since Vaughn has taken over as Nets head coach, the team has impressed with a 4-2 record and the NBA's top defense during that timespan.
On the other hand, Los Angeles has an awful defense (ranked 20th in rating) and now has to deal with mounting injuries to LeBron James, who may or may not suit up.
The Lakers have hinged their fates on finding a way to hit shots from beyond the arc, they will be fine. Well, against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Russell Westbrook made 4 of 7 attempts, and the team connected on 40% from downtown. The result? A 120-114 loss. The Lakers can't beat the Nets and won't cover here.
Nets vs Lakers Over/Under analysis
With the Nets seriously improving their defense during the last few weeks and the Lakers continuing to struggle on offense, the Under should be a serious consideration in this one.
It's been a long season on the offensive side of the ball for Los Angeles, who don't have any consistent shooters on the roster. The Nets rank 19th, and the Lakers are 26th in points per game. To get an idea of how awful L.A.'s 3-point shooting has been, Westbrook is the team's best shooter from behind the arc — nailing a respectable 36.2% of his attempts.
That is good for Westbrook, but simply not acceptable for a team to have no shooters on the roster. This will be evident again as Brooklyn is playing lights out on defense of late. With James likely out, this one could be a snooze.
Nets vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Under is 6-0 in Nets' last 6 overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Lakers.
Nets vs Lakers game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Sunday, November 13, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBA TV, YES, Sportsnet |
