Game Time: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 

Venue:  Staples Center, Los Angeles, California (soon to be Crypto.Com arena)

Where to Watch:  TNT

DraftKings:  Spread: NL

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

No line out yet.  The prediction below will apply.

Suns: 24-5, 1st place Western Conference, 1st place in the league.

Lakers:  16-15, 7th place Western Conference.

The Phoenix Suns continue to amaze.  They are on a three-game winning streak that may not match the 18 game winning streak that came to an end on December 3rd against the Golden State Warriors.  Not only are they on a 3-game streak, but they are also 5 of 6 since that Warriors loss.  They lost a lone game against the Los Angeles Clippers, proving that everybody has an off night…. So technically they have won 22 of their last 24!!  It starts with a great veteran floor general, future Hall of Famer, Coach on the floor type in point guard Chris Paul (point God).  Then add a duo of young all-stars in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.  Then the perfect glue guys in two-way stud Mikal Bridges and veteran banger uber pro Jae Crowder.  Add in a quality bench player behind every single spot… and some luck to not lose guys to Covid-Protocols as of yet.  You get the best team in the league… you also get a description that could be transplanted onto the Golden State Warriors (the other best team in the league)... and the blueprint for what your lousy NBA team should try to emulate.

The Los Angeles Lakers are all bark no bite this season.  They are on a two game losing streak that dropped them from 6th to 7th place in the standings.  They have the oldest roster in the NBA and maybe the oldest ever assembled.  These guys miss games, these guys take games off to rest, these guys catch Covid and land in protocols.  Lots of these guys will be in the Hall of Fame one day.  Their star LeBron James is only a couple seasons (of relatively moderate production) from overtaking Karl Malone for 2nd in scoring in league history… and then a short jump to overtaking Kareem Abdul Jabbar for 1st in scoring in league history.  He also is a total stat beast that may end up the greatest player of all-time.  (Jordan was great, but only has the 6 rings argument, and several former Celtics have more… Plus LeBron has won waaaay more Conference Finals than Jordan).

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Phoenix is 24-5 on the season, but 16-13 ATS.  They have logged 12 Overs, 16 Unders and 1 Push.  They are 10-3 in road games.

The Lakers are 16-15 on the season, but 12-19 ATS.  They have notched 15 Overs, 15 Unders and 1 Push in 31 matchups.  They are 10-7 in home games.

The Suns are 3rd in the NBA in points averaging 111.9 ppg, 7th in rebounds with 45.8 per, 5th in AST/TO ratio with 1.9.  They are shooting the lights out: 2nd in FG%, 4th in 3PT%, 9th in FT%.  The thing that the Suns can hang their Championship aspirations on are the stout defensive numbers.  They are 4th in defending points allowing only 104.6 ppg, 3rd in FG% defense, 8th in 3PT% defense.

The Lakers are 8th in ppg with 110.5, 6th in rebounds with 46 per, and 25th in AST/TO with 1.5.  They also are shooting okay with 7th FG% at 46.4%, 12th in 3PT%, and a lousy 28th in FT% (they do have Dwight Howard back in the fold).  The anchor weighing them down is the terrible defensive numbers.  27th in defense of points by allowing 111.3.

Our prediction for Tuesday, December 21st is….  Phoenix 118 - Lakers 99

Phoenix should handle the Lakers easily.  All NBA opponents are capable of good games and winning against anybody… but the Phoenix Suns seem ultimately equipped to handle the Lakers both offensively and defensively.  The Covid bug shooting around rosters at the moment seems to be affecting the Lakers a bit more at the moment. In fact the Lakers may end up with some cancellations if they can’t contain the spread.

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The Suns are 8-5 ATS versus the Lakers over the last 3 seasons.

The Suns are 5-3 ATS versus the Lakers at the Lakers the last 3 seasons.

5 of 8 of this matchup has gone Under the last 3 seasons.

Suns:  PG Chris Paul (hand) Probable ** Dario Saric (knee) missed the entire season so far.

Lakers: PG Kendrick Nunn (ankle) Out ** SG Kent Bazemore (covid) Out ** Anthony Davis (knee) Out ** SG Malik Monk (covid) quest ** SG Avery Bradley (hip) Out ** PG Russell Westbrook (covid) quest ** C Dwight Howard (covid) Out ** SG Talen Horton-Tucker (covid) Quest

Suns: G Chris Paul, G Devin Booker, F Mikal Bridges, F Jae Crowder, C Deandre Ayton

Lakers: G Isaiah Thomas, G Rajon Rondo, C DeAndre Jordan, PF LeBron James, SF Wayne Ellington

Suns

Points: Devin Booker 22.9

Assists: Chris Paul 10.1

Rebounds: Deandre Ayton 11.3

Steals: Chris Paul 2.0

Blocks: Deandre Ayton 0.8

Lakers

Points: LeBron James 25.9

Assists: Russell Westbrook 8.3

Rebounds: Anthony Davis 9.9

Steals: LeBron James 1.7

Blocks: Anthony Davis 2.0

Suns: Monty Williams

Lakers: Frank Vogel