Clippers Lakers Line

• Clippers Lakers Line
• Lakers Clippers Lineup

The Lakers needed another forward in the starting lineup alongside James. Kyle Kuzma was the call, and this decision says quite a bit about his place in the pecking order. William Hill list the Lakers as four-point favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 216.5 in the latest Lakers vs. Before you make any Clippers vs. Lakers picks and NBA predictions, see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.

Orlando, FL - AUGUST 25: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Round One Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on August 25, 2020 at The AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game Information Date: 12/22/20 Time: 10:00 p.m. ET Venue: Staples Center TV Coverage: TNT Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline, Spread.

Two of the best teams in the league meet up to get the Thursday NBA schedule underway at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers, with high-end star power on display for both teams. The Bucks are 9-5 this season, including a 6-1 mark at home, and they are looking to bounce back from a road loss to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The Lakers are also aiming to avenge a recent loss, and Los Angeles is unbeaten at 7-0 on the road this season. LeBron James (ankle) is officially listed as questionable to play, with Anthony Davis (ankle) listed as probable for Thursday's game.

The latest Lakers vs. Bucks odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Milwaukee as a two-point favorite, up a point from the opener. The over-under for total points expected is set at 228.5. Before making any Bucks 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 it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is up nearly $8,100 over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it is also on a stunning 68-39 roll on top-rated picks against the spread, returning almost $2,500 on those selections alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Bucks. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Bucks vs. Lakers:

• Lakers vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -2
• Lakers vs. Bucks over-under: 228.5 points
• Lakers vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -130, Lakers +110
• LAL: The Lakers are 5-2 against the spread in 2020-21 road games
• MIL: The Bucks are 4-3 against the spread in 2020-21 home games

Why the Lakers can cover

Led by top-tier star power, the Lakers are excellent on both ends. Los Angeles leads the NBA in defense, giving up only 104.6 points per 100 possessions, and the Lakers are No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rebound rate (76.7 percent), free throw rate allowed and blocked shots per game (6.5). Frank Vogel's team also lands in the top five in shooting efficiency allowed, and the Lakers contest shots at an elite level.

On the offensive side, the Lakers are scoring almost 1.15 points per possession, a top-five figure in the NBA. Los Angeles also ranks in the top six in both effective field goal percentage (55.8 percent) and true shooting percentage (58.8), with the ability to create efficient looks on a regular basis. The Lakers can also use physicality to create second-chance opportunities, as Los Angeles ranks near the top of the league in grabbing 28.4 percent of their own missed shots on the offensive glass.

Why the Bucks can cover

Milwaukee is in strong form right now, led by a trio of star-quality players. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning NBA MVP, and he is averaging 27.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season. Antetokounmpo also anchors the defense alongside Jrue Holiday, with the newly-acquired guard averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. From there, Khris Middleton is one of the more efficient perimeter scorers in the NBA, averaging 22.1 points per game and shooting 53 percent from the floor and 44 percent from 3-point distance.

Those three players key a team with strongly above-average metrics on both sides of the floor, including the No. 1 offense in the NBA on a per-possession basis. Milwaukee will have its hands full with the reigning champions, but the Bucks have strengths to rely on both offensively and defensively in this game.

How to make Lakers vs. Bucks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Bucks vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game Information

Date: 12/22/20

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Staples Center

TV Coverage: TNT

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline, Spread, Total, and Odds

Moneyline: Lakers -136 Clippers +116

Spread: Lakers -2.5

Total: 222 points

NBA Championship Odds: Lakers +270 Clippers +650

Odds courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook. Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk free for up to $1,000!

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers News and Notes

Despite the fact that this is the first game of the season, both of these teams are dealing with key injuries. Marcus Morris is currently listed as questionable for the Clippers, and he became an important part of their rotation after being acquired before the trade deadline last season. The Clippers increased their Net Rating by a ridiculous +17.7 points per 100 possessions with Morris on the court during the regular season, and the three-man combination of Morris, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George outscored opponents by an average of +15.9 points per 100 possessions. That makes them one of the most lethal three-man combos in the league.

Morris was unable to suit up in the preseason due to knee soreness, and he will almost assuredly be limited if he does suit up vs. the Lakers.

On the Lakers side, newly acquired Dennis Schroder is questionable with an ankle injury. He tweaked his left ankle during a preseason contest and was held out of Friday’s preseason finale vs. the Suns. That said, it seems like he’s on track to suit up on opening night.

Schroder excelled as a sixth man for the Thunder last season, and he was one of three finalists for the Sixth Man of the Year award. He should fill a similar role for the Lakers this year and serve as the offensive focal point off the bench.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Pick

It doesn’t get much better than the Clippers vs. the Lakers on opening night. Not only do these teams share the same city and arena, but they are two of the best teams in basketball. Both teams are led by a dynamic duo that would be the envy of most teams.

The Lakers’ duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis was able to lead them to a championship last season, and they’re the current betting favorites to win the title in 2021.

Clippers Lakers Line

The Clippers’ duo of Leonard and George ultimately fell short, but they remain two of the best players in the league. Not only are they gifted scorers, but both players are capable of playing lock down defense.

So who has the edge in this matchup? I’m going to side with the Clippers.

This should be a competitive matchup, but I think the Clippers have the edge from a motivational standpoint. They have a lot to prove this season after imploding in the playoffs, so this matchup simply means more to them. The Lakers are also coming off a grueling season that ended approximately just two months ago, so I would expect them to take it easy on their star players. LeBron has carried a tremendous workload throughout his career, and he’s entering his 18th season. The Lakers need to make getting him a bit more rest a priority this season, and he’s already talked about taking some games off during the year. It wouldn’t be a shock if his workload was limited in this contest.

Additionally, the addition of Serge Ibaka has the potential to make a huge difference for the Clippers. They spent the majority of last year searching for a viable starting center, and Ibaka fits that description perfectly. He can space the floor on offense and protect the rim on defense, which is something that none of their big men from last season were capable of doing. He raises the ceiling of this team immensely.

Lakers Clippers Lineup

The Pick: Clippers +2.5