The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of a first-round series in the 2021 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday. Riding high after a play-in victory, the seventh-seeded Lakers fell short against the Suns in Game 1, losing by a 99-90 margin. Phoenix, the No. 2 seed in the West, can take a commanding 2-0 lead with another win on Tuesday. LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (shoulder) are officially listed as probable for the Lakers.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The latest Lakers vs. Suns odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Los Angeles as a two-point favorite. The over-under for total points is set at 210. Before finalizing any Suns vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $800 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the first full week of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 99-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen massive returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Suns in the NBA Playoffs 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Suns vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Suns spread: Lakers -2
- Lakers vs. Suns over-under: 210 points
- Lakers vs. Suns money line: Lakers -130, Suns +110
- LAL: The Lakers are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games
- PHX: The Suns are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers are arguably the best defensive team in the NBA. Though they lost Game 1, they were very good on that end of the floor, and Los Angeles led the league in defensive efficiency in the regular season. The Lakers allow less than 1.07 points per possession, and they are a top-five team in shooting efficiency allowed, turnover creation rate (15.2 percent), 3-point shooting allowed (35.2 percent) and blocks (5.4 per game).
Los Angeles dominates the defensive glass, securing 74.8 percent of rebounds after forcing a miss from its opponent, and the Lakers are also a top-10 team at preventing free throw attempts, giving up only 20.5 shots per game at the charity stripe. On the offensive side, the Lakers are dynamic when James and Davis are engaged and available to play, and Los Angeles gets easy points at the free throw line. The Lakers attempt 23.3 shots per game at the line, ranking No. 6 in the NBA, and both James and Davis averaged more than 21 points per game in the regular season.
Why the Suns can cover
Phoenix is keyed by a prolific backcourt with Devin Booker and Chris Paul. While Paul was limited in Game 1, Booker exploded for 34 points, and he averaged 25.6 points per game in the regular season. Paul is the consummate leader, averaging 16.4 points and 8.9 assists per game this season, and the Suns also have Deandre Ayton in the middle, with the former No. 1 pick producing 21 points and 16 rebounds in the opener.
The Suns are a tremendous defensive team, ranking No. 6 in the NBA in points allowed per possession (1.10) this season. That was on full display in holding the Lakers to only 90 points in Game 1. Phoenix also held Los Angeles to just 32.8 percent from 3-point distance, and that aligns with a top-five mark in 3-point efficiency allowed (35.4 percent) from the regular season.
How to make Suns vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 209 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Suns vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
