- The Lakers are 2.5-point road favorites against the Spurs on Nov. 15.
- Los Angeles won the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament last year.
- I bet the Lakers’ moneyline (-135) vs. Spurs.
After winning the inaugural in-season tournament last year, the Los Angeles Lakers begin the 2024 NBA Cup on Friday with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center.
Los Angeles (7-4) opened as a short road favorite but is 1-4 away from home this year. Meanwhile, San Antonio (6-6) is coming off a 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards, thanks to a 50-point performance from Victor Wembanyama.
Here is a look at the latest Lakers vs. Spurs NBA odds and my best bet ahead of Friday’s matchup:
Lakers vs. Spurs NBA Cup Odds – Nov. 15
- Point spread: Lakers -2.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Lakers -150/Spurs +125
- Total: 228.5
Lakers vs. Spurs NBA Cup Prediction
Based on the latest NBA betting lines, my favorite Lakers vs. Spurs NBA Cup prediction is on Los Angeles’ moneyline value (-135) due to its advantage over San Antonio in this format.
The Lakers proved they cared about winning this event last year, as they were motivated by the prize pool. Los Angeles went 4-0 in group play, posting a league-best +74 point differential. No other team finished better than +46.
After that, the Lakers won all three games in bracket play, including their 133-89 shellacking of the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals.
When LeBron James cares about something, the rest of the team follows suit. And he’s playing exceptionally well right now, recording three straight triple-doubles entering Friday’s contest.
While Wembanyama is coming off a 50-burger, Lakers big man Anthony Davis is one of the few centers in the league capable of slowing down the second-year center.
In addition, the Lakers’ biggest weakness is their transition defense. They allow the most fast break points per game, but the Spurs are 26th in that category on the offensive end.
Los Angeles has won three games in a row, and I expect that streak to continue on Friday.
Prediction: Lakers Moneyline (+135)
- Note: This line has moved since the bet was made on Thursday
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