I honestly cannot remember the last time the Lakers were such big underdogs in a game against their historic rival the Celtics. LA enters this one as 9.5 point underdogs, which just illustrates how badly things have been going for them in the last couple of weeks. Defensively this team is just atrocious at the moment, they’ve given up 130+ points in 4 consecutive games which is the longest such streak in franchise history. They’ve lost to the Celtics 126-115 on Christmas Day this season, in the last 6 meetings they’ve been able to record just 1 win, while in the last 10 they’ve covered the spread only twice. After missing the game against Atlanta, we’re not even sure if Anthony Davis will play here as he finds himself on the injury report once again with a hip problem. With about a week left until the trade deadline, there’s a lot of uncertainty going around this team and heading into tonight’s game there’s not much optimism they can get a result here.
Despite a couple of rare setbacks at home, the Celtics have continued to plow their way through pretty much whatever has been in front of them in the past couple of weeks. They’re 5-1 SU in their last 6 and find themselves still atop of the Eastern Conference. With the Bucks and 76ers seemingly struggling to keep up, the number one seed is pretty much theirs to lose at this point. Jayson Tatum in particular has put up really big numbers in head-to-head meetings with the Lakers, he’s averaging 34 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in the last 5 against them. He’s posted 30+ points in 3 consecutive meetings at TD Garden against them, the Lakers could be in trouble trying to contain him tonight. Boston should also get a healthy Al Horford back into the line-up, he has been bothered by a minor neck issue lately.
