The Los Angeles Clippers (44-20) will take on the Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena in Orlando, Fla., for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off (on TNT). We analyze the Clippers-Lakers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets. Pacific Division foes square off when the Los Angeles Lakers (0-0) host the Los Angeles Clippers (0-0) at Staples Center, beginning at 10:00 PM ET on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. The Clippers are 3.5-point underdogs in the game, the first matchup between the squads this season. The over/under is 223.5 for the matchup.Betting Information Lakers vs Clippers Betting Information Favorite Read More. The Clippers owned a 39-19 lead after one period. An 11-2 run by the Lakers cut the gap to 41-30 after a 3-pointer by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope midway through the second quarter. The Lakers sliced. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: August 8, 2020 Predictions, Computer Picks, Odds, Line, Spread and Betting Trends NBA Betting – Top Games for August 8 & 9 Matches Latest NBA Scores.

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Two of the best teams in the league meet up to get the Thursday NBA schedule underway at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers, with high-end star power on display for both teams. The Bucks are 9-5 this season, including a 6-1 mark at home, and they are looking to bounce back from a road loss to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The Lakers are also aiming to avenge a recent loss, and Los Angeles is unbeaten at 7-0 on the road this season. LeBron James (ankle) is officially listed as questionable to play, with Anthony Davis (ankle) listed as probable for Thursday's game.

The latest Lakers vs. Bucks odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Milwaukee as a two-point favorite, up a point from the opener. The over-under for total points expected is set at 228.5. Before making any Bucks vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is up nearly $8,100 over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it is also on a stunning 68-39 roll on top-rated picks against the spread, returning almost $2,500 on those selections alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Bucks. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Bucks vs. Lakers:

• Lakers vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -2
• Lakers vs. Bucks over-under: 228.5 points
• Lakers vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -130, Lakers +110
• LAL: The Lakers are 5-2 against the spread in 2020-21 road games
• MIL: The Bucks are 4-3 against the spread in 2020-21 home games

Why the Lakers can cover

Led by top-tier star power, the Lakers are excellent on both ends. Los Angeles leads the NBA in defense, giving up only 104.6 points per 100 possessions, and the Lakers are No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rebound rate (76.7 percent), free throw rate allowed and blocked shots per game (6.5). Frank Vogel's team also lands in the top five in shooting efficiency allowed, and the Lakers contest shots at an elite level.

On the offensive side, the Lakers are scoring almost 1.15 points per possession, a top-five figure in the NBA. Los Angeles also ranks in the top six in both effective field goal percentage (55.8 percent) and true shooting percentage (58.8), with the ability to create efficient looks on a regular basis. The Lakers can also use physicality to create second-chance opportunities, as Los Angeles ranks near the top of the league in grabbing 28.4 percent of their own missed shots on the offensive glass.

Why the Bucks can cover

Milwaukee is in strong form right now, led by a trio of star-quality players. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning NBA MVP, and he is averaging 27.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season. Antetokounmpo also anchors the defense alongside Jrue Holiday, with the newly-acquired guard averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. From there, Khris Middleton is one of the more efficient perimeter scorers in the NBA, averaging 22.1 points per game and shooting 53 percent from the floor and 44 percent from 3-point distance.

Those three players key a team with strongly above-average metrics on both sides of the floor, including the No. 1 offense in the NBA on a per-possession basis. Milwaukee will have its hands full with the reigning champions, but the Bucks have strengths to rely on both offensively and defensively in this game.

How to make Lakers vs. Bucks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Bucks vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Bucks vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers open their 2020-21 seasons Tuesday with no fans allowed at Staples Center. F LeBron James and the Lakers begin their title defense at 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Clippers-Lakers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Clippers at Lakers: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Money line: Clippers +135 (bet $100 to win $135) Lakers -160 (bet $160 to win $100)Against the spread/ATS: Clippers +3.5 (-115) Lakers -3.5 (-105)Over/Under: 220.5 (O: -110 U: -110)

Clippers at Lakers: Key Injuries

Clippers

SF Marcus Morris Sr. (knee) out

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Clippers at Lakers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Lakers 106, Clippers 101

Money line (ML)

The LAKERS (-160) are the defending champions and have the most talented roster in the NBA when all are healthy. Well, it’s the season opener and James, PF Anthony Davis and Co. are healthy and ready to begin what hopes to be a second straight title run.

Of course, the Clippers are fully healthy, as well, and few teams in the NBA may be as motivated to knock off the 2019-20 bubble champs as the one led by Fs Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers also won the first two meetings of the Battle of Los Angeles last season by a combined 15 points, including a 112-102 victory in the season-opener, but the head-to-head series ended in a split at 2-2.

Clippers Lakers Lineup

The Clippers made a head coaching switch this offseason by bringing in Tyronn Lue, but James is fully familiar with his gameplan and will prove superior.

The champs will stay on top.

Also see:Best bets and predictions for 2020-21 NBA champion

Against the spread (ATS)

Clippers Lakers Spread

Predictably, the two intra-city rivals are projected to be in a close, back-and-forth affair, even though all but one of the four meetings last year was decided by a margin greater than 5 points.

Few defenders are as well-equipped to contain James as Clippers’ Defensive Player of the Year candidate Leonard. Even if Leonard succeeds, the Lakers’ offseason additions of C Marc Gasol and PG Dennis Schroder should prove especially valuable against their expected top competition in the Western Conference. Oh, and there’s still Davis to worry about. He averaged 28.3 points per game against the Clippers last year and should again prove to be the X-factor.

Take the LAKERS -3.5 (-105) to win by at least 4 points with slightly better value than the money line.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 220.5 (-110) is my top play in this season-opening contest. Not only are all teams expected to start the season a little rustier than usual following a shortened offseason and preseason, but the Clippers will still need time to find their new identity under Lue.

All four meetings last year also played below Tuesday’s projected total. Both teams focused on the defensive end with their offseason additions and defense will prevail Tuesday.

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Also see:

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