Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers – Preview & Prediction: In the NBA, Philadelphia 76ers host Los Angeles Lakers.
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Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers are riding a strong wave of momentum, having won their last three games and four of their previous five. Nick Nurse’s team has taken down the Washington Wizards (121–102), Golden State Warriors (99–98) and Milwaukee Bucks (116–101) in succession. Their current record sits at 13–9, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, though a climb into the top three is well within reach.
What stands out most in the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent stretch is their elite defense. Over their last five games, they boast the best defensive rating in the league, holding opponents to 103 points or fewer in four of those contests. The team’s undisputed leader this season has been Tyrese Maxey, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring with 31.6 points per game. Yet the 76ers’ depth has also been on display — most notably in the win over the Milwaukee Bucks, when the bench contributed 61 of the team’s 116 points. Quentin Grimes continued his strong play with 22 points, Paul George put together perhaps his best performance since returning to the floor with 20, and Jarace Walker chipped in 18. Tyrese Maxey finished with just 12 points — his lowest output of the season — but had dropped 44, 35 and 35 in the three games prior. Along with his scoring, he delivered a game-saving defensive moment with a last-second block on De’Anthony Melton to secure the narrow win over the Golden State Warriors. Despite Joel Embiid spending more time off the court than on it this season, the 76ers continues to find ways to win. The offense hasn’t been spectacular — 15th in offensive rating for the season and just 22nd over the last five games — but the Sixers are compensating with stellar individual play from their new franchise star in Maxey and the contributions of hungry young players like Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe.
The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, have dropped two of their last three after previously ripping off seven straight victories. They were without Luka Doncic for the past two games as he traveled to Slovenia for the birth of his child, and during that stretch the team recorded one win and one loss. They edged out the Toronto Raptors 123–120 before falling to the Boston Celtics 126–105 in a matchup where LeBron James also sat out.
It appeared the Los Angeles Lakers had accepted the likelihood of losing to their bitter rivals from Boston, which made the Toronto Raptors road game all the more meaningful. The Raptors have been one of the season’s pleasant surprises, making the Lakers’ last-second win even more valuable — sealed by Rui Hachimura’s buzzer-beating three off a LeBron James assist. Interestingly, the game also marked the end of LeBron James’ streak of 1,297 consecutive games scoring in double figures, as he finished with just eight points. Still, his decisive pass to Hachimura ultimately delivered the victory. Austin Reaves was spectacular as well, finishing with 44 points and 10 assists. He followed that with another strong outing against the Boston Celtics, posting 36 points and eight assists, but the shorthanded Lakers stood little chance without their two best players. The early part of the season has made one thing clear: the Lakers struggle significantly without Luka Doncic. The team owns the league’s sixth-best offense and ranks second in overall field-goal percentage. They rely far more on two-point attempts than threes, but to take the next step they’ll need to tighten a defense that sits in the league’s bottom third in defensive rating.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers H2H
Last season, the head-to-head series between these two teams ended tied at 1–1.
Injuries and Suspensions
The Philadelphia 76ers cannot count on Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr, while Paul George and Joel Embiid are questionable. The Los Angeles Lakers will be without the injured Marcus Smart, while the availability of LeBron James and Luka Doncic remains questionable.
Where to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers?
Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers Best Betting Tip and Prediction
The Philadelphia 76ers have been playing outstanding defense lately. Over their last five games, they own the best defensive rating in the league and have allowed the fewest points in that span. The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, were without Luka Doncic while he traveled to Slovenia for the birth of his child, and it’s reasonable to expect he’ll need a bit of time to find his rhythm after returning to the United States. Philadelphia’s aggressive defense should also make things difficult for the rest of the Lakers’ perimeter creators. Considering all of this, we expect this matchup to feature fewer total points than the projected line.
Tip-off Time: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EST, December 7th
Prediction: Under 237.5 points
Odds: 1.71
Stake: 1 Unit
Sportsbook: BetNow
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