Celtics at Lakers: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bet for Thursday’s Celtics-Lakers game.

The Boston Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers for a nationally televised game on Thursday night, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET and can be seen on TNT.

The Lakers are still without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and Markieff Morris is listed as questionable with an ankle sprain. The Celtics will be without Evan Fournier, and Robert Williams has been downgraded to questionable on Thursday.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Celtics -6
  • Money line: Celtics -250 / Lakers +195
  • Over-under: 213.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The Lakers edged the Celtics 96-95 in their first meeting in Boston, but that was with a very different lineup than the one that will take the court on Thursday. Los Angeles has alternated wins and losses over their last eight games, going 5-3 against the spread in that span, while the Celtics are on a four-game winning streak, including impressive wins over the Blazers and Nuggets.

The Lakers are still playing solid defense, and Andre Drummond could be a problem for Boston, especially if Williams does not play. Yet I’m taking the Celtics -2 first half here at -125. The Celtics have been getting off to slow starts during their current winning streak, but are generally much better in the second quarter. Against a Lakers team lacking star power and playing at a fairly average pace, I’m less worried that the Celtics could struggle out of the gates again.

Prediction: Celtics 113, Lakers 106

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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