The Boston Celtics (31-13) travel to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers (23-18) on Thursday, January 23rd. This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and televised on TNT. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 10:00 ET.
Celtics vs Lakers
The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win
Boston improved to 31-13 on the season with a 117-113 win over the Clippers on Wednesday. The Celtics were favored by 11.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, winning by just four. The game’s total points of 230 exceeded the O/U line of 217.
After trailing 84-81 going into the 4th quarter, Boston went on a 13-0 run to take control, extending the score from 89-85 to 102-85. They outscored the Clippers 22-19 in the final quarter to secure the win.
The Lakers Are Coming Off A Win
With a 111-88 win over the Wizards on Tuesday, the Lakers improved to 23-18 this season. Playing at home, Los Angeles entered the game as -13.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total score of 199 points fell well short of the O/U line of 227.5.
Los Angeles steadily built their lead, winning each of the first three quarters before holding the Wizards to just 11 points in the 4th quarter.
Celtics Offense Breakdown
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points and 6 assists in their 117-113 win over the Clippers, shooting 53.3% from the field. Jayson Tatum added 24 points, hitting 4 threes despite shooting just 30.8% from deep, while Derrick White contributed 20 points, also making 4 threes at 33.3% efficiency.
Boston connected on 19 threes, shooting 38% from beyond the arc and 45.6% overall. White scored 10 points in the 4th quarter, adding 3 more in overtime, while Brown and Tatum each added 3 points in the extra period.
Lakers Offense Breakdown
Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a win over the Wizards with 29 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 63.6% from the field. LeBron James contributed 21 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, while Dorian Finney-Smith added 16 points, hitting 4 threes at 66.7% efficiency.
The Lakers shot 47.8% from the field and made 11 threes at 32.4%. Austin Reaves also scored 16 points, with 7 coming in the 4th quarter. Davis had a strong start, scoring 19 points in the first half.
Celtics Team Defense
Despite a rough start, giving up 34 points in the 1st quarter, the Celtics tightened up defensively, allowing just 25 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters and only 19 in the 4th. They held the Clippers to 113 points while shooting 52% from the field.
Boston did a great job defending the three, allowing just 9 made threes on 32% shooting. They sent the Clippers to the line 13 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Celtics also recorded 11 steals and 4 blocks.
Lakers Team Defense
Despite giving up 34 points in the 1st quarter, the Celtics tightened up defensively, allowing just 25 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters and only 19 in the 4th, helping them secure the win. Overall, they allowed 113 points on 52% shooting from the field.
Boston did a great job defending the three, holding the Clippers to just 9 made threes on 32% shooting. They also sent the Clippers to the line only 13 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Celtics finished with 11 steals and 4 blocks.
Celtics vs Lakers Trends
- Across their five previous road games, Boston has an ATS mark of 2-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 3-2 while averaging 109 points per game.
- In their last five home games, Los Angeles has averaged 106 points per game while allowing 113. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 3-2.
- Through their last five games as the betting underdog, the Lakers have a strong record vs the spread going 3-2. Their straight up mark in these contests is 2-3.
- Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 6-4. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.
Celtics vs Lakers Prediction
Coming in as the underdogs at +5, we have the Lakers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 221 and our model has the Celtics and Lakers finishing with a combined 237 points. Our pick is to take the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 23, 2025 Celtics, Lakers