Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/25/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Where to watch: TNT

DraftKings: Lakers -3

BetMGM: Lakers -3.5

Caesars: Lakers -3.5

Lakers: 23-24 (8th, Western Conference)

Nets: 29-17 (3rd, Eastern Conference)

Anthony Davis is back for the Los Angeles Lakers. There will either be peace in the valley or torches and pitchforks outside Crypto.com Arena.

The big man is expected to play for the first time since Dec. 17 when the Lakers visit the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday in what will begin a crucial second half for the Lakers.

And given the opponent and their current situation, I do like the Lakers to bounce back and get back into the win column against the shorthanded Nets.

The Lakers' struggles have been well-documented to this point. Trying to figure out what's wrong with them and how to fix them might take more time than need be. But the Lakers' competitiveness in the Western Conference relies on them staying healthy, and it starts with Davis.

L.A. is coming off a 113-107 loss at the Miami Heat on Sunday, and head coach Frank Vogel took an 'L' for his temper tantrum toward the media at the end of that game. But alas, he's at least getting Davis back in the fold and that's going to change some things up.

It helps the Lakers have been able to keep things near .500 thanks to the stellar play of LeBron James, who had 33 points last game for his 17th consecutive game of at least 26 points.

"I'm in one of the best zones offensively I've been in in my career," James said.

That says a lot, really. But the Lakers have needed every bit of that production with Davis out. In short, no one is happier to have Davis back than James. But if they valued the books the way they do straight up, things may be just as horrible in Los Angeles at the moment.

The Lakers are just 13-21 against the spread as a favorite this season and are 1-6 ATS following consecutive non-conference games; that mark runs to 13-28 over the past three seasons. 

And if you were expecting things to be any better with the Nets, you're sadly mistaken. The Nets are just 5-17 against the spread at home and also 3-11 at home when the total is greater or equal to 220. But as an underdog over the past three seasons at 6 points or less, the Nets are 16-6.

Despite that, though, I think the Lakers will benefit greatly with Davis returning. The Nets will still not have Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving for this home game, which means it's all on James Harden after the Nets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Motivational factors for the win as always. Lakers by 10

The over is 4-0 in the Lakers' last four road games.

The over is 8-1 in the Lakers' last nine following an ATS loss.

The Nets are 1-6 ATS in the last seven at home against a team with a losing record on the road.

PG: Russell Westbrook

SG: Avery Bradley
SF: LeBron James
PF: Trevor Ariza
C: Anthony Davis

PG: James Harden

SG: DeAndre' Bembry
SF: Patty Mills
PF: Kessler Edwards
C: LaMarcus Aldridge

Key injuries

Lakers: Kendrick Nunn (knee, out)

Nets: Kyrie Irving (out), Kevin Durant (MCL, out), Joe Harris (ankle, out), Nic Claxton (hamstring, questionable)