It hasn’t been the season Los Angeles Lakers fans hoped for with LeBron James & Co. sitting ninth in the West and in need of a win with the cellar-dwelling San Antonio Spurs coming to town.
While this Lakers team has struggled, it hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as the Spurs, and the NBA odds have Los Angeles as a big double-digit favorite at home. However, teams can’t take San Antonio lightly with its young talent really coming on, and Darvin Ham’s defense could get a taste of the future of the NBA on Friday night.
Find out where my best bets lie in our NBA picks and predictions for Spurs vs. Lakers on Friday, February 23.
Spurs vs Lakers odds
Spurs vs Lakers predictions
It’s been a rough year in terms of wins for Greg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, but despite sitting last in the West with an 11-45 record, this season has shown promise. Even though it hasn’t materialized in Ws, Spurs fans have to be happy with the long-term outlook of this team.
After taking Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wemby has been everything San Antonio could have wanted and more. He’s currently the NBA Rookie of the Year odds favorite behind his 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. He’s the real deal and has become must-watch TV for NBA fans across the globe.
While Wemby is the headliner for this Spurs team, he hasn’t been the only young gun that’s impressed this season, with San Antonio’s second-leading scorer Devin Vassell continuing to get better in his fourth season playing for Pop. The former 11th overall pick out of Florida State is averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game and has been the Spurs’ most consistent 3-point threat this season.
That gives Vassell quite the opportunity against a Los Angeles Lakers team that’s been iffy on the defensive end at times this season, particularly against threes. While L.A. is holding opponents to a respectable 117.3 points per game and ranks 14th in defensive rating, it’s been among the worst teams against threes this season.
The Lakers currently rank 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage allowed at 37.4% and teams have tried to capitalize on those defensive issues on the perimeter by jacking up plenty of shots from behind the arc. L.A. has seen the third-most opponent threes attempted this season (37.8), and as a result, it’s also allowed the third-most threes per game (14.2).
With the perimeter being the best way to attack the Lakers, especially with the size and strength of LeBron James and Anthony Davis inside, that could lead to Vassell and his 3-point game being the focal point of the Spurs’ offensive attack in L.A.
This season the 23-year-old is shooting 37.4% from three on 6.7 attempts and averaging 2.5 made threes per game. He leads the Spurs in attempts with 1.5 more per game than Keldon Johnson and has been the go-to trigger man from deep for much of the season.
Vassell is also coming off one of his best games of the season, a 32-point performance against the Sacramento Kings, and has been playing some of his best basketball over his last 16 games. Since Jan. 19, he’s averaging 22.2 points per game and shooting 42.1% from three and in those 16 games, he’s finished with at least three made 3-pointers nine times.
This Lakers defense offers the perfect opportunity for him to continue his hot streak, especially from deep. This season, the Lakers are allowing 23.9 points per game to shooting guards, third most in the league, and giving up 3.48 threes to shooting guards per game.
Between Vassell taking his game to another level as of late and L.A.’s struggles defending both two guards and 3-pointers, the Spurs' young guard has a terrific matchup to flex his long game and put on a show.
My best bet: Devin Vassell Over 2.5 threes made (+105 at bet365)
Spurs vs Lakers same-game parlay
Devin Vassell Over 2.5 threes made
D’Angelo Russell Over 18.5 points
Anthony Davis Over 24.5 points
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While the San Antonio Spurs have shown promise on the offensive end with Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, the defense is still a work in progress. San Antonio is giving up the sixth-most points per game in the NBA, 120.6, and has been terrorized by opposing point guards and big men.
That bodes well for both D’Angelo Russell, who leads the Lakers in threes per game, and Anthony Davis, who leads the team in points per game. This season, the Spurs are allowing the most points to point guards in the league (27.2) and have struggled to defend against threes, allowing opponents to shoot 38.5% from deep.
Well, Russell may only be averaging 17.5 points this season, but he’s having a career year in terms of shooting efficiency. The former Ohio State Buckeye is shooting a career-high 41.5% from three and should be able to build on his season against this lackluster Spurs defense.
It will help him get open looks out wide with how much the Spurs have struggled inside against bigs this season, which should lead to a strong game from Davis. Davis is averaging 24.9 points per game, and the Spurs are giving up the third-most points per game in the NBA to centers this season (25.7). AD is coming off a strong stretch of games, too, with at least 25 in four of his last six.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Spurs vs Lakers spread and Over/Under analysis
Even with LeBron James a game-time decision and the Los Angeles Lakers coming off an 18-point loss to the Golden State Warriors, L.A. opened as 8.5 to 9-point favorites with the line shifting to 10 at most books.
The Lakers have been one of the worst teams ATS this season, going 27-31, but are 3-1 over the last four. The Spurs have been even worse, going 26-30 ATS, including 3-7 in the last 10.
With both of these defenses struggling this season, the game total opened at 238.5 and has continued to climb with most books offering it at 240.5. Both L.A. and San Antonio have been solid Over bets this season. The Lakers are 31-27, betting the Over, and the Spurs are 28-27-1, both ranking in the top half of the NBA.
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Spurs vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Spurs have hit the 2Q Over in 44 of their last 75 games (+9.95 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Lakers.
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Spurs vs Lakers game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Friday, February 23, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Spectrum SportsNet, Bally Sports SW-SA |
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