by Rod Pearson
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025
Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Thursday, January 23, 2025
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to Watch: TNT, MAX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Celtics -6, Lakers +6; Over/Under: 221.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Celtics -6, Lakers +6; Over/Under: 221.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Celtics -6.5, Lakers +6.5; Over/Under: 221.5 points
Season Record
Boston Celtics: 30-13 (1st place, Atlantic Division)
Los Angeles Lakers: 23-18 (2nd place, Pacific Division)
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Recent Form
Boston Celtics: 6-4 last 10
Los Angeles Lakers: 5-5 last 10
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Analysis
The Celtics are entering this game with a 30-13 record overall this season and they are 15-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Golden State Warriors, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Los Angeles Clippers still to be played on Wednesday night. In their game against the Warriors, Jayson Tatum led the team in points in that game with 22 while Kristaps Porziņģis was next on the team with 18 points. Payton Pritchard led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Jayson Tatum led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 53.3% from the field, 41.7% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 108.1 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 17-25-1 this season and their O/U record is 18-25.
The Lakers are entering this game with a 23-18 record overall this season and they are 15-6 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Washington Wizards. Anthony Davis led the team in points in that game with 29 while LeBron James was next on the team with 21 points. LeBron James led the team in assists in that game with 13 while Anthony Davis led the team in rebounds with 16. They were 47.8% from the field, 32.4% from 3-point range, and 77.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 111.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 113.2 PPG against them. The Lakers have an ATS record of 20-21 this season and their O/U record is 19-22.
Celtics vs Lakers Prediction
The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as a 6 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Celtics have looked great in their games this season with their 30-13 record overall which has them right near the top of the East with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have been a great road team too with their 15-5 road record this season. Meanwhile, the Lakers have looked good in their games this season with their 23-18 record overall which has them right in the middle of the West and in the playoff race. They have looked a lot better on their home court too with their 15-6 home record. They are coming off a win over the Wizards in their last one, but the Wizards have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and the Lakers haven't looked that great lately as they are still just 5-5 in their last 10 games. They do have a rest advantage here since the Celtics are playing this game on a back-to-back, but the Celtics are also the defending champions so they won't have trouble playing in this situation. They are coming off a win over the Warriors in their last one and they have been the hotter team lately with their 6-4 record in their last 10 games. They have been struggling more over the last 2 weeks, but they are starting to break out of their funk now and this is the kind of game against LeBron and the Lakers that the Celtics will bring their best effort for to put on a show. The best way to place a bet here is on the Celtics to cover the spread in this game.
Celtics Lakers Prediction: Our NBA Pick for Thursday, January 23, 2025 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Celtics 114 Lakers 101.
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NBA Betting Trends
Boston Celtics: 17-27 ATS in all games. 5-9 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 3-12 ATS off a road win. 15-6 UNDER in road games. 5-1 UNDER in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 10-5 UNDER off a road win.
Los Angeles Lakers: 20-14 ATS as a home underdog. 29-19 ATS in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 39-27 ATS when playing 6 or less games in 14 days. 5-2 UNDER versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing 13 turnovers/game or less.
Key Injuries
Boston Celtics: A. Horford (C) Day To Day - Toe. J. Holiday (PG) Day To Day - Shoulder.
Los Angeles Lakers: J. Hood-Schifino (SG) Day To Day - Hamstring. J. Vanderbilt (PF) Day To Day - Knee. C. Wood (PF) Out - Knee.
Notable Quotes
“When you have a team like us, who has the opportunity to be on a platform, you try to take advantage of that. So yeah, it’s good to coach on a day like this, but I think the bigger picture for me is the ability to have the platform that we have as a team to do that throughout the regular season.” - Joe Mazzulla after his team’s win against the Warriors in their game on Monday.
“We don’t have a choice. I mean, that’s the way our team is constructed. And we have to play close-to-perfect basketball.” - LeBron James on the team’s roster this season.
Starting Lineups
Boston Celtics
PG Derrick White
SG Jrue Holiday
SF Jaylen Brown
PF Jayson Tatum
C Kristaps Porzingis
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Austin Reaves
SG Max Christie
SF Rui Hachimura
PF LeBron James
C Anthony Davis
Statistical Leaders
Boston Celtics
PPG: J. Tatum (27.5)
APG: J. Tatum (5.4)
Reb/G: J. Tatum (9.3)
Los Angeles Lakers
PPG: A. Davis (25.7)
APG: L. James (9)
Reb/G: A. Davis (11.9)
Coaches:
Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (3rd season)
Los Angeles Lakers: JJ Redick (1st season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
