The Los Angeles Lakers face the Brooklyn Nets Monday night after losing one of the season’s more controversial games after a late foul was not called. Playing the Boston Celtics, the Lakers lost 125-121 in overtime, but LeBron James tried to end the game during regulation. He was fouled on a last-second layup attempt, but the referee did not call it.
On Saturday, the Nets beat the New York Knicks for the ninth straight time in the Clash of the Boroughs. They beat their in-city rival 122-115, behind 21 points in the fourth quarter by Kyrie Irving.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Lakers vs Nets. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Lakers Without Stars
It has already been announced that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will miss Monday’s game against the Nets. Davis is still recovering from a foot injury that forced him to miss 20 games, coming off the bench in the two games since his return.
James has missed a game here and there for rest, likely due to him being 38 years old now with a heavy workload, but there is also a possibility he needs a break from playing. The loss to the Celtics hit him very hard, causing him to be very animated after not getting the late-game foul call. It was a string of weird decisions by the referees all game that could have prompted James’ reaction. Late in overtime, with the game pretty much over, he did not return to the court after a timeout.
The Lakers have finally put together some wins, going 4-3 in the last seven games. However, most of that was just James willing them to victory. He is averaging 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and eight assists over the last 12 games. Without him, it’s hard to imagine what the offense will do.
Nets Outside Shooting
Throughout the season, the Nets have not leaned on their outside shooting, attempting 31.4 threes per game, ranked 23rd. Part of that is Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being amazing shot creators, elite at taking and making difficult shots from the midrange. However, with Durant out, many of the role players have had to step up, and their primary method of scoring is shooting threes.
This increase in 3-point attempts has happened over the last two games, facing the Detroit Pistons and Knicks. Against the Pistons, the Nets lost 130-122, shooting 34% from three on 38 attempts. Playing the Knicks was a completely different story. The Nets attempted 40 threes but made 55% of them.
Eight different Nets players made a three. Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris attempted the second most, seven, and were a combined 8-14 from three. Irving also went 5-12, hitting four in the final quarter, one of which helped seal the win.
Lakers vs Nets Game Injuries
Lakers vs Nets Head-to-Head
The Lakers beat the Nets 116-103 in their first game this season in Los Angeles. They were without James, but Davis scored 37 points with 18 rebounds.
Lakers vs Nets Game Information
- Game: Lakers (23-27) vs Nets (30-19)
- Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Day/Time: Monday, Jan. 30th, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Lakers vs Nets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Lakers vs Nets Betting Lines
Lakers vs Nets Picks & Prediction
Without their star players, the Lakers will have to rely on an inefficient Russell Westbrook, who hasn’t started since the third game. The offense might be entirely placed in his hands, a risk on its own. The hope would be that the rest of the supporting cast could step up and challenge the Nets.
The Nets have had their own issues with inconsistency since Durant’s injury. However, at least they have Irving, with six straight 30-point games. He should be able to will his team to a win, especially if the hot shooting from his teammates continues.
However, expecting the Nets to cover a nine-point spread seems unlikely without Durant.
The Brooklyn Nets are listed at -390 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Nets, you have a chance to win $26. The Los Angeles Lakers are +310, offering a chance to win $310 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Brooklyn Nets a 79.59% chance to win, with the Los Angeles Lakers at 24.39%.
Lakers vs Nets Trends
Lakers vs Nets Edge
Lakers vs Nets Results
Lakers vs Nets Game Summary
Nets vs Lakers Previous Game (Nov. 13, 2022)
The Brooklyn Nets are starting to put it all together as of late. Despite a 1-5 start to the season, the Nets are now 6-7 and in high spirits following their coaching change from Steve Nash to Jacque Vaughn.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are falling apart. They are 2-10 after losing their fifth straight game to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Will the Nets keep on rolling and cover the NBA betting odds here?
The Nets are currently listed as three-point favorites in the sportsbook and it seems that they’re the better play. While Irving being out of the lineup is a major hit for Brooklyn, Los Angeles is in a similar position with LeBron out.
