To close out tonight's five-game NBA slate, the Los Angeles Lakers match up with the NBA-best Phoenix Suns. The Lakers, who have been ravaged with injuries and COVID protocols, will be without Anthony Davis and a number of rotation players, and welcome the Suns riding a three-game win streak.
The Suns are fresh off a Sunday-night 31-point crushing of the Charlotte Hornets, where Devin Booker returned from a hamstring injury and tallied 16-6-5 in limited minutes. The Lakers return home hoping to shake off two road losses to Minnesota and Chicago but will have to do so without Anthony Davis and a number of rotation players.
Can the Lakers overcome the injury report and take down the league-best Phoenix Suns? Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Suns vs. Lakers for December 21.
Suns vs Lakers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The spread in this game opened with the Phoenix Suns as 7.5-point favorites, but has come down to -6.5. The Over/Under line came on the board at 221.5 but has been bet up to 223.5 at most outlets.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Suns vs Lakers predictions
Predictions made on 12/21/2021 at 2:30. p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Suns vs Lakers game info
• Location: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2021
• Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT
Suns vs Lakers betting preview
Injuries
Suns: Chris Paul G (Probable), Frank Kaminsky F (Out), Abdel Nader F (Out), Dario Saric F (Out).
Lakers: LeBron James F (Probable), Anthony Davis F (Out), Trevor Ariza F (Probable), Kendrick Nunn G (Out), Malik Monk G (Out), Avery Bradley G (Out), Kent Bazemore G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Suns are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with the Lakers. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Lakers.
Suns vs Lakers picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
These two teams played at STAPLES Center during the first week of the season. Both teams were relatively whole (LeBron, AD, Westbrook, Paul, Booker, and Ayton all played) and the Suns won 115-105, and were leading by 27 entering the fourth quarter.
Well, what's happened since then and what's different about this game?
To start, the Suns might be the most confident team in the NBA. They sit atop the Western Conference and hold the league's best record at 24-5, they rank within the Top 7 in both offensive and defensive rating, and just welcomed back leading scorer Devin Booker from injury on Sunday night. They're currently on a three-game win streak, where they're also 3-0 ATS, covering spreads of -1.5, -8, and -8.5.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have not been able to find an ounce of momentum at any point this season. Be it injuries, COVID, defensive effort, or just general dysfunction, it's become really hard to predict what you're going to get from the Lake Show on a night-to-night basis — every team they give us an encouraging performance, they usually follow it up with a really poor one.
To pile on, they're without Anthony Davis tonight, as well as a handful of rotation guards including Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, and Kent Bazemore. Outside of LeBron, this leaves much of the heavy lifting in Russ' hands, for better or for worse.
When these two matched up the first time around, the Lakers allowed 52 points in the paint to a Suns crew that ranks sixth in that area. With no AD in this matchup, the door is open for Phoenix to put up an even bigger mark.
I expect Booker to look improved in his second game back from injury, and the Suns to take care of business — as they did back in October.
Prediction: Suns -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The total in this game is on the board at 223.5. The first time these teams played, the line closed at 222, and the game finished just Under at 220.
The key difference in this game is the absence of Anthony Davis. Though he hurts the Lakers offensively, I think he hurts them even more defensively. Losing his paint presence and rim protection could mean a ton of easy baskets for Phoenix. On top of that, these two teams actually rank first and second in pace, and the Lakers sit fourth in turnovers per game. This spells out a recipe for quick possessions and easy baskets that come in bunches.
Lastly, the Suns put up 137 points Sunday night. It may have come against the league's worst defense, but I'm not going to bet Under with a team that's in as good a rhythm as the Suns. The trends back this up... the Over is 19-7 in Phoenix's last 26 games coming off a game where they scored 125 or more.
It's only a lean, but I like the Over with these two teams.
Prediction: Over 223.5 (-110)
Best bet
I'm rolling with the Suns as my best bet. With Booker back and key contributions from Phoenix's role players, I expect them to gain separation and hold onto it. The Lakers are hard to trust in any spot, let alone against the NBA's best team, while also missing AD.
Phoenix is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with the Lakers and I expect that trend to continue tonight.
Pick: Suns -6.5 (-110)
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