Updated Lakers vs Suns Series Odds – LA Falls to +220 Underdogs After Blowout Loss in Game 5

• The Lakers fell 3-2 down to the Phoenix Suns following a Game 5 blowout
• Chris Paul and Anthony Davis are dealing with injuries 
• Is it worth backing the Lakers to win the series at +220? 

The Los Angeles Lakers are one loss from elimination. They were demolished by the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, meaning LeBron James and co. will have to win consecutive games if they are to progress. Los Angeles is three-point favorites for Game 6, despite falling to a humiliating, 115-85 loss in Game 5.

A groin strain kept Anthony Davis out of Wednesday’s game. It’s unclear when the All-Star forward will be able to return.

Phoenix has their own injury worries, however, with Chris Paul clearly playing through shoulder pain in Game 5. Paul has been restricted for much of the series, and it’s limited the Suns significantly on the offensive end with the Hall of Famer shooting just 40% from the field, while averaging under 10 points and 6.8 assists.

Lakers vs Suns Series Odds

Odds as of June 2nd

King James Needs Help

LeBron James has not been at his dominant self in this series. He’s still at almost 49% from the field and over 38% from three. While the four-time MVP will be viewed as the face of the failure if the Lakers are eliminated in the first round, he has been short of help.

Playing without Davis is obviously a major issue, but the rest of the Lakers have been subpar on the offensive end, too. Dennis Schroder and Kyle Kuzma were key in the regular season. Kuzma is barely over 30% from the field on seven points per game, and Schroder scored zero points on nine field goal attempts in Game 5. Even with Davis back on the hardwood, he’s unlikely to be at his best. If the Lakers are to stage a comeback in this series, James needs more from his teammates.

Lakers got a combined zero points from KCP, AD and Schroder…. Lakers ain’t winning that game

— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) June 2, 2021

This Lakers offense doesn’t have much margin for error. They need the best version of LeBron, but they equally need an uptick in production from the rest of the roster. Kuzma, Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso and Wes Matthews are a combined 21-for-89 from three in the series. That’s not going to get it done.

Injury Factor

Phoenix continues to talk down the severity of Paul’s injury. Monty Williams barely acknowledged the issue during his post-game comments. Paul wasn’t himself after the knock in the series opener, but the issue resurfaced when he hit the floor in Game 5. It has messed with his shooting form, resulting in a three-point percentage of 28.6% for the series. The Lakers have been able to defend him differently.

Interesting postgame note from Chris Paul. He's been in contact with Kyle Lowry "a lot" because Lowry suffered and played through a similar shoulder/neck stinger last season. Soundbite + video of both. pic.twitter.com/gF9Px0C7lM

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 2, 2021

Everything suggests that Paul will play through the discomfort. It hasn’t harmed the Suns too much so far. His leadership and defense is still invaluable to Phoenix, particularly so when they’re just one win away from a place in the second round.

.@ShannonSharpe on the Lakers blowout loss to the Suns:

"LeBron is the ring leader, he gets the lion's share of the credit when things go well, so it's only fair I give him lion's share of the blame when things are bad. I expected him to be better." pic.twitter.com/vaylZ0V2dd

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 2, 2021

The situation is less clear with Davis. He remains day-to-day, and is listed as questionable for Game 6. Should he return, though, it changes the dynamic. If he can be anywhere near the player who dominated in the bubble, the Lakers offense will receive a much-needed boost, and the reliance on the shooting of Caldwell-Pope, Caruso and co. decreases.

Most Likely Outcome

The Lakers can turn this round even without Davis. It would be foolish to rule out LeBron James’ team, but if he doesn’t have his All-NBA teammate, he needs much better production from the role players. James winning once without Davis is plausible, but doing that twice in quick succession seems like a very long shot.

Dennis Schroder:

— 0 points
— 1 assist
— 0-9 shooting
— 0-4 from three
— 84 million dollars turned down

He is the first Laker to go scoreless in a playoff game while attempting 9+ shots since the franchise moved to LA. pic.twitter.com/XbVHD3nVCT

— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 2, 2021

These series odds are a fair representation of where this duel stands. The Lakers are definite underdogs, yet that can change so quickly. This is all about what happens in Game 6. If it goes to a decider, it will be impossible to bet against LeBron James, regardless of the health of Davis.

This might just come down to the shooting of non-LeBron Lakers. Perimeter shooting has been an issue all year long, however, and that makes it hard to back the Lakers to win this series even at +220.