The Philadelphia 76ers (1-6) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (4-4) in the NBA this Friday, which is set to tip off at 10:00 p.m. from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Lakers are 7.5-point home favorites over the Sixers on the spread (Lakers -7.5), with the over/under currently at 223.5 points. The Lakers are -300 favorites on the moneyline to win outright, while Philly is +240 to pull off the upset.
Let's dive into my 76ers vs. Lakers predictions and my NBA picks for Friday, November 8.
76ers vs. Lakers Picks, Predictions
Moneyline
The moneyline for this game is actually enticing to play a Lakers ML and pay the vig. This spread opened at Lakers -6.5 and has passed through -7 to a consensus -7.5. When I see exactly that particular move, I look to see if I want a ML favorite. The reason is because it crosses through the threshold for a 3-possession NBA game, where late game fouling comes into play.
As long as Anthony Davis plays, I like the Lakers ML. It is the clear sharp side and a healthy injury report would make this even stronger. When I play a -305 ML, I place 1-unit down for less return.
Spread
My advice would be to avoid the Lakers vs. Sixers on the spread. The line movement through the -7 number scares me off this line. I do not want a very pricey Lakers ATS ticket, nor do I want to fade line movement on the 76ers side.
Considering the total has slightly increased, I also think this is an over spot, which correlates with a spread favorite. The Lakers would be the correct side, but I would rather play the moneyline. The spread is at a consensus of -7.5 across the market.
Over/Under
The over/under is taking some late over steam, likely because the expected return of Anthony Davis, who was recently upgraded from questionable to probable. We also have Rui Hachimura questionable with an illness, but I would expect he leans towards playing.
While AD is critical for the Lakers defense, his impact on the line movement to a total is relatively neutral because he spaces the floor on offense and gets offensive rebounds, while also serving as a decent floor spacer and great free throw shooter.
The Lakers defense has actually been 6 points per 100 possessions worse with AD on the court. A small sample size, but it does speak to avoiding the assumption of defensive player of the year candidates being absolutely correlated with unders.
Pick: Anthony Davis Over 43.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists (-113)
76ers vs. Lakers Odds
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 223.5 -110 / -110 | +240 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 223.5 -110 / -110 | -300 |
- 76ers vs. Lakers Odds: Lakers -7.5
- 76ers vs. Lakers Over/Under: 223.5 points
- 76ers vs. Lakers Moneyline: Lakers -300, 76ers +240
76ers vs. Lakers Preview
Anthony Davis is going to return this game after missing the last one with a foot injury. In the postgame locker room interview with LeBron James against the Memphis Grizzlies, LeBron was asked how the team handles the situation if AD has to miss a long time.
Anthony Davis can be heard in the clip saying, "I'm not out."
The next day, Shams Charania reported the foot injury is a lingering issue from last season, and the Memphis game was more of a maintenance situation rather than a concern. For these reasons, I expect a full-out AD today.
76ers vs. Lakers Prediction
Some people joke that AD stands for "alternate days" instead of Anthony Davis, because he flourishes after a bad game, or in this case, a night off during a bad lakers loss. Expect AD to go for a classic 20-point, 15-rebound spot against the Sixers tonight.
Best Bet: Anthony Davis Over 43.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists (-113)
Same Game Parlay: Lakers ML + Anthony Davis Over 43.5 PRA (+132 FanDuel, 0.5u risked)
76ers vs. Lakers Starting Lineups
76ers Starting Lineup
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr
SF: Paul George
PF: Caleb Martin
C: Andre Drummond
Lakers Starting Lineup
PG: D'Angelo Russell
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: Rui Hachimura (Questionable)
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis
76ers vs. Lakers Viewing Info: Channel, Start Time, Streaming
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Friday, November 8 |
| Time: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming Options: | ESPN |
