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The Lakers are 3-0, and Luka just dropped 52. Portland is 2-0, but it lost Shaedon Sharpe for six months. Laying under a field goal at home with the better team is a good spot. Lakers.
The Matchup
- LA is rolling. The Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 and the Clippers 125-117, then won 132-123 in Utah.
- Portland is 2-0. The Blazers crushed Phoenix 124-83 and won 128-120 in Sacramento.
- Last season. The Lakers went 53-29 and outscored teams by 1.8 a game. Portland went 42-40, about even.
- Tip-off. 11:00 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena, on NBC and Peacock.
Injuries
Shaedon Sharpe (torn meniscus) is out for Portland, and he scored 20.8 a game last season. Scoot Henderson (ankle) and Branden Carlson (concussion) are questionable. The Lakers are without Adou Thiero.
The Number
Last season’s scoring margins plus home court make the Lakers about a four-point favorite, and that’s before Sharpe got hurt. The board says two and a half. The numbers like LA.
The honest case against: Ja Morant and Damian Lillard barely show up in Portland’s numbers from last season, so those numbers may undersell this team, and late tips can get weird. It’s a Game Pick, a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Bottom Line
Take the Lakers minus two and a half at −105 at FanDuel. Lean. Luka at home against a team down its leading young scorer. Purple and gold.
Same-Game Parlay
One read in two legs. If the Lakers cover, Austin Reaves is probably cooking next to Luka. Every leg needs the same game, so this is one position, not two bets.
- ✕Los Angeles Lakers -2
- ✓Austin Reaves over 23.5 points
✕ LOST · 1 of 2 legs hit
Reaves keeps scoring and LA stays unbeaten.
Confirm lines before you build the ticket. This parlay is a Game Pick. Player props not available in all states.