Last Updated on December 5, 2023 12:32 pm by Erwin Noguera
The NBA In-Season Tournament will give us a taste of a possible Playoff clash, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will square off for a berth in the Final Four, which will be in Las Vegas.
The Lakers had a fierce run through the group stage, closing with a 131-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Phoenix won the Wild Card berth by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 110-89 in the last game.
When:
Thursday, November 5 at 10:00 pm ET at Crypto.com Arena
Moneyline odds:
Lakers -125
Suns +108
Where Can I Watch?
Why Bet on the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers have a good team, but it is certain that for now, they are not in the Top 5 of the favorites to be NBA champions, despite having one of the best versions of LeBron James.
They will probably reach the Playoffs again this year through the Play-In. That’s why the In-Season Tournament is important for the Lakers, as it could be the way to succeed in a season that doesn’t end up closing well.
Anthony Davis’ inconsistency in the regular season is not seen here, while LeBron is playing like he is 25 years old, not the 38 he is. The King is averaging 24.8 points, shooting 55.9% from the field and 39.6% from three-point range. Never before in his extensive 21-year career has he been so effective, as his rate is 62%, the closest being 61% in the 2013-2014 campaign.
For his part, Davis is contributing 22.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, and great defense, as he blocks 3.7 shots per game. His presence in the paint often forces opponents to look for shots away from the rim.
D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura are the backups for the Lakers’ duo, who are likely to lose forward Jarred Vanderbilt.
Why Bet on the Suns?
The Phoenix Suns, due to the quality of their roster, are bound to reach the Western Conference finals. However, they reached the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament through the window, as they entered as the best of the second-placed teams.
The 110-89 win over the Memphis Grizzlies allowed them to close with a 3-1 record, leaving behind the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Grizzlies themselves.
That was a win backed by Devin Booker, who poured in 40 points and again proved that this is his team, regardless of Kevin Durant.
The guard averages 27.3 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The most important shots are going through his hands. Kevin Durant had to carry the team for much of the early part of the season due to injuries to Booker and Bradley Beal.
Despite being 35 years old, ‘KD’ contributes 31.3 points per game, 6.9 boards, and 5.5 assists. Other players with good contributions are Grayson Allen and sixth-man Eric Gordon, who at 35 years old, is still very productive. Also worth mentioning is Jusuf Nurkic, one of the best defenders in the league, with 1.3 blocks and 9.3 rebounds.
Beal is still out of the team due to injury, as he has a strain.
Final Betting Analysis: Lakers vs. Suns
The numbers at MyBookie.ag have the Lakers as the favorites. The Moneyline for them shows -125, while the Suns have +108.
The Lakers have the In-Season Tournament as one of the big goals of the season, but the Phoenix Suns, if they have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, will reach the semifinals in Las Vegas.
Go for a win in the Suns’ Moneyline. If you bet $100 at +108, you will gain $108 for a total payout of $108.
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