The Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to STAPLES Center on Thursday evening. The Sixers are aiming for a sixth consecutive road win. Philadelphia has also won nine of the last 10 games overall, with Los Angeles entering this game on a three-game losing streak. Joel Embiid (knee) is out for the 76ers, with LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (calf) ruled out for the Lakers.
Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET. The latest Sixers vs. Lakers odds from William Hill Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as a 5.5-point road favorite, while the over-under is 215.5. Before finalizing any Lakers vs. Sixers 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 it has returned more than $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $1,200 on its top-rated picks this season, and dating back to last year, it enters Week 14 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 91-53 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. 76ers. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for 76ers vs. Lakers:
- 76ers vs. Lakers spread: 76ers -5.5
- 76ers vs. Lakers over-under: 215.5 points
- 76ers vs. Lakers money line: 76ers -220, Lakers +190
- PHI: The 76ers are 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 games
- LAL: The Lakers are 6-4 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia is an elite defensive team, allowing only 106.9 points per 100 possessions this season. The 76ers are a top-three squad in effective field goal percentage allowed (51.7 percent), and Philadelphia is a top-two team in both steals (8.8 per game) and blocks (6.3 per game). Doc Rivers' team is above-average on the defensive glass, pulling down 74.4 percent of available rebounds, and the 76ers allow only 11.9 second-chance points per game.
While the Lakers are usually quite effective offensively, they are struggling without James, losing the last three games and scoring fewer than 1.01 points per possession. On the offensive side, Philadelphia scores at an above-average level of 1.12 points per possession, headlined by high-level free throw creation. The Sixers rank second in the NBA in free throw rate, and they are also a top-tier offensive rebounding team, securing 29.0 percent of their own missed shots.
Why the Lakers can cover
Frank Vogel's team can lean on its defense to remain competitive, even with a short-handed roster. The Lakers lead the NBA in defensive rating, allowing only 106.4 points per 100 possessions, and Los Angeles ranks in the top five of the league in shooting efficiency allowed. Opponents are shooting just 51.7 percent on 2-point attempts and 35.1 percent on 3-point attempts against the Lakers, No. 6 in both categories, and Los Angeles is No. 3 in the league in blocked shots (5.8 per game).
The Lakers protect the defensive glass, grabbing 74.9 percent of available rebounds, and Los Angeles is also a top-eight team in free throw prevention. Philadelphia also struggles mightily with ball security, turning the ball over on 15.0 percent of offensive possessions. On the offensive side, the Lakers aren't terribly dynamic, but they do have some strengths. Los Angeles is a top-five team in creating free throws and No. 7 overall in 2-point shooting (55.1 percent).
How to make 76ers vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 214 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can get that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins 76ers 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 on a roll on NBA picks.
