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Wizards vs Lakers Odds, Spread & Predictions (Dec. 18)
By Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The LA Lakers are 4.5-point favorites versus the Washington Wizards Sunday
- Washington has lost nine games in a row
- Read below for the Lakers vs Wizards odds and predictions
You have to go back a decade to when the Washington Wizards (11-19, 3-12 away) hit a skid this bad.
After losing their ninth straight game to the Clippers on Saturday, they’re right back at it the next day, taking on the Los Angeles Lakers (12-16, 7-7 home), who are trending upwards after a brutal start to the year.
LA is coming off an impressive win over the Denver Nuggets, but it did come at a cost, as Anthony Davis left with a foot injury and already been ruled out against the Wiz.
It all gets underway Sunday (Dec 18) at 9:30pm ET from crypto.com Arena, a game you can see live on NBA League Pass.
Wizards vs Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Wizards | +4.5 (-110) | +166 | OFF |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -4.5 (-110) | -198 | OFF |
Odds as of Dec 18 at FanDuel. Claim the FanDuel promo code to bet on the Wizards vs Lakers game.
The NBA odds are decidedly on the home-side Lakers, who are 4.5-point favorites and -198 on the moneyline.
Washington is playing the third of a brutal six-game road trip out West, with no soft landings. After the back-to-backs in LA, they’ll see the Suns, Jazz and Kings.
Washington Betting Outlook
It’s tough to win without your best player, as the Wizards have been without all-star Bradley Beal for six straight games, which have all been losses.
Beal, who’s averaging 22.9 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds and shooting 52.2% from the field, has played in just 18 games this season.
Beal (hamstring), Rui Hachimura (ankle) and Delon Wright (hamstring) all missed Saturday’s game against LA, and their status Sunday is still questionable.
KYLE KUZMA FROM 34 FEET 🎯pic.twitter.com/Nazabmu1wm
— NBA World (@NBAW0RLD24) December 17, 2022
Washington was in it into the fourth quarter against the Clippers, but couldn’t close, getting outscored 30-18 to lose 102-93. Kristaps Porzingis led the team in scoring with 19 points, seven boards and four steals, while Kyle Kuzma chipped in with 17 points, six boards and two assists.
On November 20, the Wiz were 10-7, after dispatching the Charlotte Hornets. Since then, they’ve lost 12 of 13, and this 9-game skid is the longest since they started the year 0-9 in the 2012-13 season.
Part of their issue is a defense that has been a turnstile during this stretch, allowing 118.3 points per game, with teams shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Betting Outlook
If you didn’t already know, the only path to success for the Lakers is for Anthony Davis to overshadow their problems with an MVP-level of play. And as he’s finally taken the torch from LeBron James (who’s in year 20), of course the injury bug hits him.
AD didn’t return in the second half against the Nuggets, finishing with 10 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of work.
LEBRON JAMES OH MY GOD!!!!!!! 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/EqUW4dpT2A
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) December 17, 2022
The rest of the Lakers held the fort in this one. A game after blowing a 13-point, 4th-quarter lead against the league-leading Celtics, LA put together one of their most complete teams wins on the year.
James had 30 points and nine rebounds, while Russell Westbrook came off the bench for 15 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists — his second triple double as a reserve this season. Thomas Bryant manned the middle well in Davis’ absence, potting 21 points and six rebounds.
The Lakers pounded Denver inside, scoring 64 points in the paint. They’re second in the NBA in paint points, trailing only Memphis. That offsets their struggles from distance, as they shoot an NBA-worst 32.2% from three-point range.
Wizards vs Lakers Prediction
For all their struggles, Washington has shown up on the second night of back-to-backs, going 3-2 straight up and against the spread.
Los Angeles has worked over the lesser competition of late, running an 8-0 mark ATS in their last eight games vs teams with a losing record.
Even without Davis, look for the Lakers to pound the paint against the Wiz, who are allowing nearly 52 points a game in the paint during this skid.
The Lakers are putting up 123 points per game over their last six at crypto, and holding teams to 111.3 during that stretch. Look for them to take advantage of their undermanned opponents, even without AD.
Pick:
- Lakers -4.5(-110); 1 unit to win 0.91 units
- NBA Betting Record: 15-13 ATS, 1-1 ML, 2-3 o/u, 0-2 parlays; -2.92 units
Eric Rosales
Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
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