The Los Angeles Lakers (10-6) and Phoenix Suns (9-7) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from the Footprint Center in Phoenix. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Suns are 3-point favorites over the Lakers on the spread (Suns -3), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Phoenix is a -148 favorite to win outright, while Los Angeles is +124 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Suns vs Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, November 26.
Lakers vs. Suns Prediction, Picks
Spread
I have a slight edge on the Suns at -3, with my model projecting a spread of -3.75.
Moneyline
Bettors can also find value by targeting the moneyline at ESPN BET at -150, considering odds of -3.5 should be closer to -166.
Over/Under
There's a strong market sentiment on the over since it got steamed to 235.5 after opening at 231.5. Although my projection (232.75) for the total is slightly lower than the current number, I prefer to pass on fading the market that steamed the opening number of 231.5 to 235.5.
My Pick: Suns -3 or better (-110 at bet365)
Lakers vs Suns Odds
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -112 | 234.5 -108o / -112u | +124 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -108 | 234.5 -108o / -112u | -148 |
- Lakers vs Suns spread: Suns -3
- Lakers vs Suns over/under: 234.5 points
- Lakers vs Suns moneyline: Suns -148, Lakers +124
- Lakers vs Suns best bet: Suns -3 or better
Lakers vs. Suns Preview
Phoenix will get some much-needed help on Tuesday night against the Lakers as Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are set to return to action after calf strains kept both players sidelined for multiple games. The injuries occurred just three games apart, with Durant being the first to go down.
Phoenix went just 1-5 without Durant, and it's currently on a five-game winless streak since losing Beal. Considering that the Suns jumped out to an 8-1 start, it's abundantly clear that both players are invaluable to the team's success.
Thus, assessing the Suns based on their recent form would be foolhardy as it would not reflect their true potential as a unit.
Durant's mere presence allows his teammates around him to relax because of his consistency and ability to knock down shots. He's shooting 55.3% from the floor despite most of his attempts being of the mid-range variety from outside the paint.
Another underrated skill Durant possesses is that he's actually a good defender despite his wiry frame. The Suns were a top-10 defensive team with the two-time Finals MVP on the floor. Without him, they plummeted to 28th.
Durant and Beal provide balance to the Suns, allowing the other players to return to their traditional roles within the team where they're not asked to do more than they can handle. Even though the Suns made strides to improve their bench during the offseason, there simply isn't a like-for-like replacement for a player of Durant's quality.
With the band together again, look for the Suns to return to their winning ways.
Lakers vs. Suns Prediction
While it's not often that I configure a same-game parlay that isn't correlated with the same team, I have to make an exception here with the Lakers' Rui Hachimura and the Suns' moneyline. Hachimura has started all 11 games he appeared in this season, averaging 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds.
The Gonzaga product will probably match up against Durant, which means he'll need to be particularly focused on the defensive end of the floor.
These are the types of games where Hachimura tends to have some success because trying to slow Durant down will be his top priority. Hachimura is already a decent defensive player, and his ability to guard often helps feed into his offense. The Suns won't be too worried about trying to slow him down so he could fly under the radar as a scoring option.
His points + rebounds prop is available at 15.5, and although he's gone over this number just once in his last seven games against Phoenix, he's on a 3-0 run. The Suns are clearly a matchup that suits Hachimura, and I suspect the market is somewhat undervaluing that factor, making this a decent buy-low opportunity spot.
Best Bet: Suns -3 or better (-110 at bet365)
Same Game Parlay (+240): Suns ML | Rui Hachimura over 15.5 points + rebounds
Suns vs Lakers Betting Trends
