Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers - NBA prediction

Details:

In a matchup that every NBA fan is excited about, the Boston Celtics are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both teams have underachieved so far this season as they are floating around 50%.

The Celtics have picked up the tempo lately, after a tough start losing 5 of their first 7 games, but they still haven’t reached 50%.

The match against the Lakers is the first of four home games the Celtics will play in the next seven days.

Recently they were on a three-game road trip losing twice from the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks.

In their last 110-99 loss to the Hawks, the Celtics were trailing the whole game as they shot only 44% from the field and 26.1% from the three-point line.

Jaylen Brown missed Celtics’ sixth game in a row with starting center Robert Williams III also being out. Grant Williams stepped in the starting lineup to score 18 points for the Celtics.

Jason Tatum was hot scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists on 5-from-12 from the three-point line. Former Hawks, Dennis Schroder and Al Horford scored 15 and 13 points while Josh Richardson was the only one scoring off the bench with 11 points.

The Lakers, who have dropped three of their last four games, will play their second game of a five-game road trip on the East coast.

In their last game, the Lakers lost 109-102 in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

LeBron James missed an eighth straight game for the Lakers due to an abdominal strain. The Lakers have gone 3-5 during that stretch. Los Angeles also is missing Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn, who haven't yet appeared in a game this season.

Talen Horton-Tucker scored 25 points for the Lakers two nights after getting a career-high 28 in a 121-103 loss to Chicago. Russell Westbrook had 19 points, Anthony Davis 18, Malik Monk 11 and Carmelo Anthony 10.

Key facts

• Both teams will be without their leading scorers this season Jaylen Brown and LeBron James
• Dennis Schroder first game against the Lakers after leaving LA
• Boston has won 3 of the last 5 against the Lakers and 6 of the last 10
• The Lakers have won 2 of the last 3 games in Boston

With a lot of players on the injury list on both sides, it is hard to predict how things will roll and probably a big night from some of the star players will be decisive.

Given that, Jason Tatum has played very solid lately, averaging 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists on only 39.6% from the field. The 23-year-old played the best against the tough opponents and on Friday night he will probably go over 30.

Schroder who recently got the starting point guard position with the Celtics will be extra motivated in his first game against the team that didn’t sign him on a contract extension.

This will definitely be a tough match with the Celtics winning by a single-digit margin.

Value Bet

Each team will score over 106.5 points - YES

3.34

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