Suns vs Lakers Jan 11: Expert Picks and Game Predictions

Phoenix Suns (19-18 SU, 13-24 ATS) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (19-19 SU, 16-22 ATS)

When: Thursday, January 11th, 10:00 PM (ET)

Where: Crypto.com Arena, CA, Los Angeles

TV: TNT

Point Spread: Pho +1.5/LAL -1.5

Total: 237.5

Money Line: Phoenix Suns -104/-117

Notable Injuries

Suns

• Damion Lee (Out) Knee

Lakers

• Anthony Davis (Probable) Ankle
• LeBron James (Questionable) Ankle
• Gabe Vincent (Out) Knee
• Rui Hachimura (Doubtful) Calf
• Cam Reddish (Questionable) Face

At 10:00 ET, the 19-18 Suns will take on the 19-19 Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are favored by 1.5 and have won two straight games, while the Suns have lost two straight and are 8th in the Western Conference.

This division matchup will be televised on TNT, and the over/under line is 237.5. The Lakers are 4th in the Pacific Division, and the Suns are 3rd. The Lakers are -117 on the money line, and the Suns are -104.

Recent Form

Phoenix is 19-18 overall this season and is currently in 8th place in the Western Conference. In non-conference games, they are 7-4 compared to 12-14 against other Western teams.

As the underdog, the Suns have a record of 3-8 straight-up and 4-7 vs. the spread. They have also lost three straight games as the underdog. Today, they are 1.5-point underdogs and have gone 2-3 vs. the spread in their last five games as the underdog.

Against the spread, Phoenix is 13-24 for the season and has failed to cover in their last two games. On the road, their ATS record is 6-9 compared to 7-15 at home.

This season, Phoenix’s O/U record is 21-16, and the over has hit in their last two games. Their games this season have averaged 229.7 points per game, and their average over/under line is 229.3.

In their last game, the Suns lost to the Clippers by a score of 138-111. The over/under line for the game was 234.5, and the teams combined for 249 points.

At home this season, the Lakers have a record of 13-6. In their last two home games, they have won both games straight up and are 9-14 ATS as the favorite this season. Their average scoring differential at home is +5.2 PPG.

Overall, the Lakers are 19-19 this season, and they have won two straight games. In the Western Conference, they are in 9th place, and in the Pacific Division, they are in 4th place.

So far, the Lakers have been the favorite in 23 of their 38 games and have a straight-up record of 15-8 in those games. However, they have lost three straight ATS as the favorite. Today, they are favored by 1.5 points.

This season, the Lakers have an O/U record of 20-18, and their games have averaged 229 points per game. In 34 of their games, the over/under line has been lower than 237.5, and their games have averaged an over/under line of 229.5.

Los Angeles’ most recent game was a 132-131 win over the Raptors. The over/under line for the game was also 237.5, and the teams combined for 263 points. Going into the game, the Lakers were favored by 4.5, so they won by just one point.

The Historicals

In terms of betting, Los Angeles has an ATS record of 4-1 in the previous five matchups vs Phoenix. This mark has come on an average scoring margin of +7 points per game in favor of the Lakers. Phoenix and Los Angeles averaged a combined 221 points per game in these games, leading to an over-under mark of 3-2.

Analysis

This season, the Suns are averaging 115.2 points per game, which is 16th in the NBA. However, when playing on the road, they are scoring slightly fewer points at 112.9 per game.

So far, the Suns have outscored the NBA scoring average in 45.9% of their games. In terms of field goal percentage, Phoenix is 10th in the league at 48%.

When it comes to three-point shooting, the Suns are 13th in the NBA at 37%. In terms of pace, they are 25th in the league at 97.6 possessions per game.

Currently, the Suns’ defense holds the 14th rank in the NBA, allowing 114.5 points per game. Opponents are hitting 53.6% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 36.8% of their three-point attempts.

When playing at home, the Lakers are averaging 114.9 points per game, which is 20th in the league. On the season, they are 19th in scoring at 114 points per game. In terms of pace, they are 7th in the NBA at 100.6 possessions per game.

One area where the Lakers have struggled this season is three-point shooting. They are 26th in the league in three-point shooting percentage at 35%. Additionally, they are last in the NBA in three-point attempts per game at 30.5.

Despite their struggles from beyond the arc, the Lakers are 7th in the NBA in field goal percentage at 48%. In terms of two-point shooting, they are 10th in the league at 55%.

In terms of defense, Los Angeles is currently on par with the NBA average for points allowed, giving up an average of 115.1 points per game. For the season, Los Angeles is ranked 30th in fewest fouls per game. Opposing teams are averaging 19.4 free throws per game vs. the Lakers and have an overall field goal percentage of 46.9%.

Betting Trends

• When looking at their past three road matchups, Phoenix has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 115 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
• Across their last five home contests, Los Angeles has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-4, while averaging 112 points per game.
• Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Suns have a straight-up record of 0-3. Their record vs. the spread in these games was 0-3.
• The last five games that Los Angeles was favored, they have an ATS mark of 1-4 while going 2-3 straight up.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

My pick for this Suns vs Lakers matchup is to take LA at -1.5. The Suns just gave up 138 points to the Clippers, and despite their star-studded lineup, they haven’t been anything special on offense. I like the Lakers to win and cover.