The Phoenix Suns (12-51) welcome the Los Angeles Lakers (30-32) to Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns are 6.5-point underdogs and can snap a six-game home losing streak. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 232.5 points and action gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Odds
In their last matchup, the Suns (7.5-point favorites) were defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans, 130-116, while the Lakers (6.5-point favorites) fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 131-120. Both games went over their projected point totals. The Phoenix game went 29 points over the projected point total of 217, while the Los Angeles game finished 11 points over the projected point total of 240.
Los Angeles had a turnover percentage of 8.0 (better than their season average of 13.3) while Phoenix did an excellent job of getting to and converting from the charity stripe (24-28; 85.7 percent). Devin Booker played well for Phoenix with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Los Angeles was lifted by LeBron James, who contributed 31 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
In their three matchups this season, the Lakers have won all three. In their most recent game, the two teams combined to score 218 points, which was under the projected point total of 227.5. Los Angeles won 116-102, covering as an 8-point favorite. Los Angeles had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.584 vs. 0.441). Phoenix, on the other hand, did a great job of making free throws (27-32; 84.4 percent). Ivica Zubac recorded a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Lakers matchups have typically finished under the projected point total (59.0 percent). Los Angeles heads into the contest with records of 30-32 straight up (SU) and 25-34-2 against the spread (ATS).
Coinciding with Los Angeles, just over half of Suns games have finished under the projected point total. Further, Phoenix owns records of 12-51 SU and 26-36 ATS.
The Lakers’ Brandon Ingram has been playing at a high level over his last five games, averaging 26 points,7.2 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. has averaged 18 points,1.4 steals during that same time frame for the Suns.
Getting to the line might be few and far between for Phoenix in this meeting. The Suns currently rank 19th in the league with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.193, while Los Angeles ranks seventh in FTA rate allowed (0.187). Ball protection could be troublesome for the Lakers. They rank 28th at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 14.5 percent), while the Suns force the fifth-most turnovers in the NBA (opponents’ turnover percentage of 14.9 percent).
Lakers vs. Suns Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Lakers, ATS Winner – Suns, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Lakers rank 19th in second chance points per game (13.2) while the Suns rank last in second chance points allowed per game (15.3).
- Los Angeles ranks second in points in the paint per game (56.3) while Phoenix ranks last in points allowed in the paint per game (53.0).
- The Suns average 9.1 steals per game, which ranks second in the league. The Lakers rank 24th in steals allowed per game (8.4).
- Phoenix ranks sixth in points off turnovers (18.3 per game) while Los Angeles ranks 27th in points off turnovers allowed (18.5 per game).
- Los Angeles averages 25.3 assists per game, which ranks 11th in the league. Phoenix ranks 29th in assists allowed per game (26.2).
- The Lakers average 19.0 fast break points per game, which ranks third in the league. The Suns rank 28th in fast break points allowed per game (16.6).
- The Suns rank fifth in three pointers allowed per game (29.5) while the Lakers rank 23rd (33.3).
- Los Angeles averages 5.4 blocks per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. Phoenix ranks 15th in blocks allowed per game (5.1).
- Los Angeles ranks seventh in rebounds per game (46.6) while Phoenix ranks last (40.0).
- When holding opponents under 100 points, Los Angeles is 7-0 and Phoenix is 4-1.
- In games where they reach the century mark, the Suns are 11-33 and the Lakers are 29-26.
- Los Angeles is 14-17 ATS on the road, while Phoenix is 13-16 ATS at home.
- Of the Lakers’ 31 road games, they have 16 overs and 15 unders.
- The Suns have 17 unders and 12 overs in 29 home games.
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, Los Angeles and Phoenix are both 1-4 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
- During their last five games, the Lakers have scored an average of 115.2 points per game (2.7 above their season average) and allowed an average of 118.8 points per game (4.9 above their season average).
- The Suns’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 11.8, up from 10.1 for the season.
