The Washington Wizards (9-49) travel to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers (32-28) on Thursday, February 29th. This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and televised on SN-LA. The Lakers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Wizards are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Clippers. Tip-off is set for 10:30 ET.
Wizards vs Lakers
The Wizards Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
In their most recent game, the Wizards fell to the Warriors by a score of 123-112. Alonside their straight-up loss, the Wizards failed to cover the spread as +10.5 point underdogs. Concerning the over/under, the total of 235 points remained below the established over/under line of 245.
Heading into today’s game vs. the Lakers, the Wizards have a record of 9-49 and are hoping to get back to .500. In the Eastern Conference, the Wizards are in 14th place and are 5th in the Southeast division.
Washington has an overall ATS record of 27-30 as they come into today’s game. During this season, Washington has a 0-3 record against the spread as favorites and 27-27 as underdogs.
The Lakers Are Coming Off A Win
In the game against the Clippers, LeBron James was the top scorer for Los Angeles, recording 34 points. His field goal percentage for the game was 54.7%. Anthony Davis also added 20 points as the Lakers won the game by a score of 116-112.
As of now, the Lakers’ overall record is 32-28 and they have gone 2-1 in their last three games. In the Western Conference, the Lakers are currently in 9th place and hold the 4th spot in the Pacific division.
So far, Los Angeles’ ATS record is below .500 at 27-33. On the road, the Lakers have an ATS record of 13-18 compared to a 14-15 record vs. the spread at home.
Wizards Offense Breakdown
Through 58 games the Wizards are averaging 114.3 points per contest, placing them 18th in the NBA.
Washington comes into this game as the NBA’s top-ranked team in pace at 102.7 possessions per game. Their offensive numbers have been solid overall, as they are 18th in scoring at 114.3 points per game. However, they have actually been better on the road, averaging 114.8 points compared to 113.8 at home.
When it comes to shooting, the Wizards are 18th in field goal percentage at 47%. They have been a below-average three-point shooting team this season, hitting just 34% of their attempts (27th). In terms of offensive rebounding, Washington is 27th in the league at 9.4 per game.
Coming into this game, the Wizards have outscored the NBA scoring average in 46.6% of their games. In terms of assists, they are 9th in the league at 28.1 per game.
Lakers Offense Breakdown
Through 60 games games, Los Angeles is averaging 116.9 points per game (13th).
At home, the Lakers are averaging 117.6 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. Overall, they are 13th in scoring at 116.9 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage, the Lakers are 4th in the league at 49%. However, they are just 28th in three-point shooting, making an average of 11.4 threes per game.
When it comes to pace, the Lakers are 6th in the NBA. They are also 7th in two-point shooting percentage at 56%. In terms of free throws, the Lakers are 9th in makes and 6th in attempts.
So far this season, the Lakers have scored below the league average in 53.3% of their games. In terms of offensive rebounds, they are last in the NBA with just 8.2 per game. In terms of assists, the Lakers are 7th in the league at 28.5 per game.
Wizards Team Defense
So far, the Wizards’ defense is ranked 30th in the league at 124.2 points per contest. The Washington defense has allowed opponents to shoot 36.7% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 50.1% of their field goal attempts vs. Washington.
Lakers Team Defense
On defense, the Lakers are ranked 18th in the NBA this season. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA scoring average in 55.0% of their games. In their previous matchup vs. the Clippers, the Lakers’ defense struggled, giving up a field goal percentage of 54% leading to 112 points.
Key Players For The Wizards And Lakers
Our game forecasts for today suggest that Kyle Kuzma is set to be the main scorer for the Wizards, recording 22 points and shooting 9/19 from the field. This season, he is averaging 22.1 points per game along with 6.5 boards.
On the flip side, our predictions place Anthony Davis as the leading scorer for the Lakers. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 24 while also collecting 12 rebounds. Throughout the season, he has maintained a 55.7% field goal shooting rate and is averaging 24.8 points per game.
Wizards vs Lakers Trends
- Through their last ten road games, Washington has an ATS record of just 8-2. However, their overall record was 3-7 while averaging 115 points per game.
- Across their three previous home games, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-2 while averaging 113 points per game.
- Going back to their last five games as the underdog, the Wizards have a straight up record of 0-5. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.
- Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Lakers have a strong record of 4-1. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 2-3.
Wizards vs Lakers Prediction
Not only do we have the Lakers winning this one by a score of 133-101, but we see them covering the spread. Our pick is to grab the Lakers at -9.5.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 241.5 and given that our model is projecting 234 points between the teams, we like the under.
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:February 29, 2024 Lakers, Wizards