- The Boston Celtics are 2.5 point favorites over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
- Boston has scored at least 90 points in each game while LA has yet to surpass 90 points in a game.
LAS VEGAS – Two of the most historic franchises in the NBA are set to take the hardwood once again, this time in Summer League action as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics meet in Vegas.
Celtics vs Lakers Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | -2.5 (-110) | -140 | O 175.5 (-110) |
| Lakers | +2.5 (-110) | +120 | U 175.5 (-110) |
Legal sports betting sites favor the Celtics, who enter the game at 2-1 while the Lakers sit at 1-2.
Bettors should confidently bet on the Celtics to cover the two and a half point spread. Here’s why:
Offense
Neither team has been particularly efficient offensively, but the Lakers have been inefficient to a different extent, recording the lowest field goal percentage of any team thus far, shooting 37.4% from the field.
This has led to them posting the second lowest points per game in Summer League play, averaging 79 points per game.
The Celtics haven’t been much more efficient, shooting 41.8% from the field, which ranks in the bottom half of the league, and just 26.6% from three, the sixth lowest. However, they have been able to place themselves just outside of the top ten in points per game with 94 in large part due to their reliance on the free throw line.
They have averaged 27.7 free throw attempts per game and are averaging 21 free throws made per game, the third highest in the Summer League.
Comparatively, the Lakers rank bottom five in both free throw attempts (20.7), free throws made per game (10.3), and free throw percentage (50%).
With offensive ability being so scarce in Summer League, free throws could be a major factor in this game.
Defense
The Lakers rank second in Summer League in points allowed per game at 78.3 through three games.
At first glance, it may seem as though LA has been elite defensively. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll find that this is heavily skewed by their most recent game against the Clippers, which they lost 67-58.
One could argue that this skews their offensive stats as well, but it is important to note that they did not surpass 90 points in either of their first two games.
The Celtics rank just outside the top ten in points allowed per game as well, giving up 86.3 points on average.
Prior to allowing 100 points to the Heat in their most recent outing, they held each of their first two opponents to 81 or less.
Overall, the Lakers have not shown the ability to keep up with the Celtics offensively and have been solid defensively, but not as much as the stats may indicate.
Bet on Boston to pull this one out easily at NBA betting sites.
