San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Where: Staples Center — Los Angeles, CA
When: Friday, November 18, 2016, 10:30 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs (-6.5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+6.5); total: 208.0 – view all NBA lines
Writer’s Pick: San Antonio Spurs (-6.5)
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (-6.5)
The Spurs improved to 9-3 Wednesday night, beating the Kings, 110-105. With the win, the team also remained an unbeaten 6-0 on the road (5-0-1 ATS). It was another evening of balanced offensive attack for Coach Pop’s squad, as Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Pau Gasol each had 20-plus points.
Their resiliency on the road will be tested heavily Friday, as they face a young, fast-paced Lakers team in their fourth game in a week’s span. For the Spurs to keep the streak alive, a big night from those three is once again needed. Leonard and Aldridge are expected to put up great stat lines every game, but Gasol having a productive night seems to be a good barometer as well, as the Spurs are 3-0 when the Spaniard scores 20 or more.
Tony Parker and Patty Mills, meanwhile, should be ready with their dancing shoes, as they will be chasing D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Lou Williams all night. Russell and Clarkson are collectively shooting 52.5 percent against San Antonio, while Williams is only at the 38.5 mark.
The Spurs’ D has been great so far this season, ranking third in points allowed per game (98.1), seventh in defensive rating (103.1), and seventh in opponents’ field goal percentage (44 percent).
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (+6.5)
If the NBA handed out the Coach of the Year award today, Luke Walton could win by a landslide. The former Laker has done an excellent job putting a lot of fun back to Los Angeles’s most beloved team. At 7-5 (8-3-1 ATS), they are tied for fifth in the West, with a 20-point blowout win over two-time defending Western conference champs Golden State Warriors under their belt.
With second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell (16.8 ppg and 4.7 apg) and third-year power forward Julius Randle’s emergence (14.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 3.9 apg), it is probably safe to say that the Lakers have jumped ahead in their rebuilding schedule. Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson, and Nick Young’s timely offense (all three are averaging 13-plus ppg) are also a providing a great lift.
Comparing team stats from last year, the Lakers are plus six percent on field goal percentage, while also leaping 27 places in scoring per game (30th to 3rd), 20 in offensive rating (29th to 9th), and 11 in defensive rating (30th to 19th).
They will look to stop Kawhi Leonard and company Friday. Expect the Lakers to try sapping Leonard’s energy on defense, who will be playing his fourth game in seven nights.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spurs (-6.5) start slow and win it in the end with a cardiac finish, 106-104.
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