Free NBA Picks Today: Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards 12/18/22

Free NBA Picks Today: Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards 12/18/22
Sun 18th December 2022

The Los Angeles Lakers (12-16, 7-7 Home), one of the NBA’s top scoring teams, welcome the Washington Wizards (11-19, 3-12 Away) on Sunday. Washington is playing on back-to-back days after getting beaten by the Los Angeles Clippers 102-93 at Crypto.com Arena yesterday, their ninth consecutive loss.

Kristaps Porzingis led the way in the loss with 19 points. The Wizards are the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference. Los Angeles won in dominant fashion on Friday at Crypto.com Arena, beating the Denver Nuggets 126-108. LeBron James had 30 points and nine rebounds, leading the team.

The Lakers are the 12th seed in the Western Conference.It’s the final meeting of the season between the teams. After taking the only earlier season meeting against Washington 130-119 at Capital One Arena on December 4, Los Angeles will be looking for a season sweep. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 55 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks.

Porzingis had 27 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort. The Wizards have been led this season by Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma, who are averaging 22.4 and 21.3 points per game, respectively.

Both are among the league’s top scorers, as Porzingis is No. 1 and Kuzma is first. Porzingis also has grabbed 8.8 rebounds per game, most in the league.

Meanwhile, Monte Morris is dishing 5.2 assists per game. Davis and James have powered the Lakers’ offense, averaging 27.4 and 26.7 points per game, respectively. Davis leads the NBA in scoring, while James is first. Davis also has pulled down 12.1 rebounds per game, most in the NBA. Russell Westbrook has distributed 7.6 assists per game.

The Lakers rank as one of the most explosive offenses in the NBA, second-best with 115.4 points per game. The teams have split their last 10 meetings at Crypto.com Arena (5-4).

Washington has lost nine in a row on the road this season. Meanwhile, the Wizards are 3-2 when playing two days in a row this season and 2-2 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest.

The Lakers are 4-2 with a rest advantage. Washington is 1-9 in the last 10 games with an average margin of -5.8 (113.4-119.2). For the season, the Wizards are averaging 110.4 points per game, compared to 113.5 for opponents. Los Angeles has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 121.1 points per game on average while allowing 119.5 (+1.6 margin).

WIZARDS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Will Barton: 29.3 | 14.6 | +14.7
Points per game:
Will Barton: 19.3 | 8.6 | +10.7
Rebounds per game:
Deni Avdija: 7.6 | 5.5 | +2.1

LAKERS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Troy Brown Jr.: 5.2 | 11.7 | -6.5
Points per game:
Lonnie Walker IV: 11.0 | 15.2 | -4.2
Rebounds per game:
Russell Westbrook: 9.8 | 6.1 | +3.7

SportsTips’ NBA Pick:

Washington Wizards (+145)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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