Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 22/03/2024, 07:45  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The LA Lakers will be at home to welcome the Philadelphia 76ers for their next NBA regular season fixture. They come to this game sitting ninth in the Western Conference while the Sixers are eighth in the East. Every game from here on out is crucial for the Lakers. Darvin Ham’s men are three and a half games from the top six. They will have to string up a strong winning run if they are to earn an automatic playoff spot. LA, who are half a game clear of the 10th-placed Warriors, have 13 games left in the regular season. They snapped a two-game skid last time out thanks to a dominant display against the Hawks. The Lakers won by 29 against Atlanta after putting up 136 points. It was the fifth match in the last six outings that they had scored at least 120 points. Their 37th win moved them to five games above .500. LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 47 points against the Hawks. The two are managing injuries and remain on the team’s injury report as questionable.

The Sixers have won the last seven matchups with the Lakers. Three of those have come on the road. This should have them confident of being able to get back to winning ways. Nick Nurse’s men saw a two-game-winning run snapped last time out in Phoenix. Beginning a four-game road trip out in the West, the Sixers were defeated 115-102 by the Suns. Their 31st loss of the season saw them drop to half a game back on the top six. Philly have struggled since reigning MVP Joel Embiid was sidelined with a knee injury back in January. They are now not considered heavy favourites to clinch an automatic playoff spot. Embiid continues to be sidelined and will not play here. He scored 30 points as the Sixers won the reverse match by 44 back in November. Kai Jones is also ruled out and so too are long-term absentees Robert Covington and De’Anthony Melton. Tobias Harris has missed the last three games with an ankle problem and is questionable. The Sixers have averaged 103 points over their last three matches which is a huge fall from their 114.7 average for the season.