Lakers vs. Wizards Game Info
- Date: Sunday, December 18, 2022
- Time: 9:30 PM ET
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena — Los Angeles, California
- Coverage: SportsNet LA and NBCS-DC
The 2022-23 NBA season continues on Sunday with seven more games, including a battle between the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers. The Wizards rank 12th in the Eastern Conference with an 11-19 record, while the Lakers check in 12th in the Western Conference with a 12-16 record.
Washington saw its losing streak extended to nine games thanks to a 102-93 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Lakers earned a much-needed 126-108 win over the Denver Nuggets their last time out on Friday. Which team fighting to get back in the playoff race wins here?
Lakers vs. Wizards Odds & Spread
- All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: LAL: (-190) | WAS: (+160)
- Spread: LAL: -4.5 (-112) | WAS: +4.5 (-108)
- Total: 234.5 — Over: (-112) | Under: (-108)
The Lakers enter this contest as small home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 9:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 234.5 points, which is above average compared to the rest of Sunday's projected totals.
Lakers vs. Wizards Betting Trends
- The Lakers have put together a record of 12-14-1 against the spread this season.
- The Wizards are 3-9 ATS when underdogs by 4.5 points or more this year.
- This season, Lakers games have hit the over 15 times out of 28 chances.
- Wizards games this season have eclipsed the over/under 13 times in 28 opportunities (46.4%).
- When playing at home, Los Angeles has a better record against the spread (7-6-1) compared to its ATS record on the road (5-8-0).
- Washington's winning percentage against the spread, both home and away, is .357. It is 5- 8-1 ATS on its home court and 5-9-0 on the road.
Lakers vs. Wizards Prediction & Pick
Absolutely nothing has been going right for the Wizards as of late. They are averaging a disappointing 110.2 points per game during a nine-game losing streak that has them spiraling down the Eastern Conference ranks. That scoring average drops even lower when Washington is on the road (109.3).
The Lakers have been up-and-down in 2022, but they are averaging a reliable 115.4 points per game (No. 9 in NBA) and rank 12th in defensive efficiency. LA is also logging 53.1 rebounds per game (No. 7 in the NBA). These are marks of a team that is n't getting the bounces to go their way at 12-16 overall.
The Lakers are 5-1 straight up in their last six games as a favorite, so I'll back the home team.
Final Score Prediction:'Lakers: 124 | Wizards: 112
Lakers vs. Wizards Best Bet
Yes, the Lakers will be without their top scorer in Anthony Davis for this game. He suffered a right foot injury during the first half on Friday and did not return after halftime. Without its main force around the rim, LA will need to rely on 18-time All-Star LeBron James and spot-up shooters to get the job done.
The good news is that James is averaging 32.7 points over his last three games and the Lakers are shooting 35.2% from beyond the arc during that same span (No. 14 in NBA). Overall, Washington is 0-5 against the spread (ATS) in its last six games, while LA is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven home games.