Can Lakers Pull Off Underdog Road Win Over 76ers?

Quinn Allen
By , Updated on: Dec 19, 2023 07:00 PM
Can Lakers Pull Off Underdog Road Win Over 76ers?

The Los Angeles Lakers continue their East Coast road swing on Friday night with a tough matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center, who have both James Harden and Joel Embiid back in the fold. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. The Lakers will be looking to end a two-game losing skid after getting blown out by the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday evening. But, LeBron James and Anthony Davis were absent and will play in the City of Brotherly Love, which should undoubtedly make a huge difference. The Sixers meanwhile have dropped three in a row but come in well-rested, last playing on Monday in Houston against the Rockets. Keep reading for the Lakers vs 76ers prediction.

Before we get into the odds, preview, and pick, take a look at our tips for betting on NBA games and how to bet on NBA futures.

Lakers vs 76ers Odds

BetOnlineSpreadMoneylineTotal
Los Angeles Lakers+3.5 (-110)TBDOv 224.5 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers-3.5 (-110)TBDUn 224.5 (-110)

The Sixers are a slim 3.5-point favorite at home and have gone 13-11 ATS in 2022-23. The Lakeshow is just 10-14 ATS. Philly has dominated LA in recent memory, winning four straight meetings dating back to the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

Lakers vs 76ers Preview

Los Angeles might be 10-14 on the year, but they have actually been playing better basketball as of late. That was before the last two defeats. It's important to note that AD left early in the Cavaliers game and then didn't suit up in Toronto. He's been battling flu symptoms. Davis is proving to be the star of the show for the Lakers though. In back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards, the big man combined to drop a whopping 99 points, dropping 55 on DC and 44 on Giannis and the Bucks. He is balling out of his mind right now.

Darvin Ham's group truly had no chance against the Raptors however with such a thin rotation. While there were seven scorers in double-figures, Toronto proved to be too much. Dennis Schroder led the charge with 18 points, while Russell Westbrook dropped 16. But, LA shot just 21% from deep and committed far too many turnovers. LeBron and AD are obviously crucial to this squad and they'll need them firing on all cylinders against a Philly team that is slowly getting healthy.

Injuries have been the storyline for the Sixers thus far, which is preventing them from really finding any type of rhythm. James Harden first went down, then Embiid. Most recently, Tyrese Maxey also got hurt. Although The Beard and Embiid are playing again, the rotation could be thin Friday. Georges Niang is out, while Danuel House and De'Anthony Melton are questionable as well after picking up injuries in Monday's loss to Houston. Speaking of the Rockets game, it was not pretty by any means. There were a few bright spots offensively from Embiid who had 39 and Tobias Harris who dropped 27, but overall, it was a sloppy performance. Doc Rivers' team committed 19 total turnovers and got absolutely bodied on the boards by the youthful Rockets.

It also didn't help that Harden struggled immensely in his return. He shot just 4 for 19 from the field, compiling 21 points. Losing to a 7-17 Houston squad should've definitely been a wake-up call for Philly and hopefully, this upcoming seven-game homestand can be a turning point. It all starts with the Lakers. They need a big night from Embiid and Harden. The Sixers are also 7-5 at Wells Fargo this season.

Lakers vs 76ers Prediction

It's hard to look past Philadelphia's recent success against the Lakers. Plus, LA is just 4-8 on the road. Personally, I'm liking the Sixers to get back on track here in front of the Wells Fargo faithful. They'll cover.

Philadelphia 76ers To cover vs Los Angeles Lakers
-3.5 (-110)
BetOnline

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Meet the author

Quinn Allen

Quinn Allen leverages his broadcast journalism degree and passion for sports in his betting previews and analysis. Based in Kelowna, Canada, he has emerged as an expert voice with picks featured on OSB, MTS, SBD, and as a ClutchPoints editor. With a lifelong fandom of...

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