Thunder vs Lakers Betting Game Odds: King James Favored on MLK Day
The King and Martin Luther King Equals a Win?
Lakers Favored To Beat Thunder This MLK Day
Despite their rough season, the Los Angeles Lakers are favored to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder this Martin Luther King Day. Both Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and LeBron James are on the NBA injury reports. But the absence of the latter, “King” James, could be more of a detriment to his team. Still, his teams are just 2-6 in their last eight MLK Day games. So what gives with these Thunder vs Lakers betting game odds?
Thunder vs Lakers 
Day/Time:
Records: Thunder (24-13)/Lakers (14-23)
Location: FedExForum, Los Angeles, TN
Streaming: Watch Live Sports
NBA Lines Out of Whack Due To Injury Reports
Is this some sort of trap? The Lakers have been horrible lately having covered just one of its last seven games. Overall, this NBA team is just 17-24 against the spread (ATS). And while the Lakers are 14-7 at home, they are only 9-12 ATS. With reports of James’s injury, the Lakers are slight favorites. That may be due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s status.
Oklahoma City’s MVP frontrunner has a banged-up knee. He’s putting up 31.5 points on 55.8% shooting to go with 6.4 assists and a league-leading 2.4 steals per game. Losing him will compromise Oklahoma City despite being the better team overall.
The Thunder are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games. And as a road underdog, OKC is 6-3 straight-up. This 66.7% winning rate is the best under these conditions. So it behooves bettors to take it given the Thunder vs Lakers betting game odds.
On top of that, the Lakers have lost their last two NBA games without James. They lost to Utah 132-125 in a game where Anthony Davis went 5-of-21 from the field though he did post a triple-double.
“Everyone did their job except me,” Davis said. “I didn’t do my job. Obviously, Bron was out and everyone had to step up and those guys did. Except myself. So this one’s on me.”
Indeed, Davis has proven that he is just not that superstar that can carry a team. James will have to play if the Lakers are to beat the Thunder. Given these NBA predictions based on the NBA odds, he will.
The Total Goes Low Following Injury Statuses
The public’s knee jerk reaction to hearing about the two best players’ injury status is to bet against the total. It opened at 240.5 and is now down to 238.5. Never mind that 12 of the Lakers’ last 17 games have gone over or that four of OKC’s last five road games have as well. Losing both ‘SGA’ and James could shed some points here.
If both play, 240 might still be too high. The Thunder average 120 points a game and are ranked in the top five in true shooting percentages. The Lakers also put up 115 points on average and shoot over 49% from the field. But the Lakers have hit a slump in recent games.
They have not scored over 113 points in four of their last five home games. Granted, the Lakers played some tough teams like the Clippers and Heat. But the Thunder also have a top-10 road defense. Thus, the Thunder vs Lakers betting game odds trend ‘under’ for the reason that OKC may shut down the Lakers here.
The Thunder are also young, long, and athletic. They could pose plenty of issues against the 38-year-old James and the oft-injured Davis. Other than these two stars, no one else on the Lakers can be counted on to score consistently. Austin Reaves is the team’s next best NBA player and he averages 15.2 points per game.
Meanwhile, OKC has up to seven players who can score in double figures on any given night. That’s why the Thunder are near the top of the NBA standings. And why this team could be a shrewd pick.
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