The Phoenix Suns (12-9) and Los Angeles Lakers (15-4) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. EST from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The game will broadcast live on Peacock.
The Lakers are 4.5-point favorites over the Suns on the spread (Lakers -4.5), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -200 to win outright on the moneyline, while Phoenix is +165 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Suns vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 1.
My Suns vs Lakers Prediction
- Suns vs Lakers pick: Austin Reaves Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds (-120)
My Lakers vs. Suns best bet is on Austin Reaves Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Suns vs Lakers Odds
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 234.5 -110o / -110u | +165 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 234.5 -110o / -110u | -200 |
Suns vs Lakers NBA Preview
Last night, the Lakers jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 133-121 victory over the Pelicans.
While they did not cover as +15.5 favorites following a late Pelicans run, the Lakers extended their win streak to seven games.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves combined for 67 points and each made four 3-pointers.
DeAndre Ayton had 22 points and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. However, he may not be available tonight after leaving in the fourth quarter with right knee soreness.
If he does go, it will be just the sixth game against the team that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Lakers have not filed an official injury report as of this writing, but they figure to get LeBron James back (left foot/injury management) after he sat out the front end of the back-to-back. James is averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game this season.
Since James has returned to the lineup, the Lakers' offensive rating has increased by 15.4 points, though two of his four games were against the Jazz.
Tonight's line should be a bit more manageable for the Lakers to cover as they welcome the Suns to the Crypto Center as 4.5-point favorites.
The Lakers have won six of the last 10 meetings, but the team split the season series last year.
Like the Lakers, the Suns will be playing their third game in four nights, coming in on losses to the Thunder and Nuggets.
Still, they gave the Thunder one of their toughest tests of the season in a 123-119 loss and covered as 15.5-point underdogs on Friday.
Phoenix is 13-7-1 against the spread this season.
The Suns have won six of their last 10 games while flirting with a top-10 offense (11th) and defense in that span. They are averaging 40.2 3-point attempts per game, while ranking ninth in attempts and tied for fifth in 3-point percentage.
That comes even though Devin Booker is shooting just 31.1% from deep on 5.8 attempts per game. The four-time All-Star is still averaging 25.7 points per game, but he has failed to reach 25 in his last seven games.
Suns vs Lakers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Austin Reaves has scored 20 points and collected at least four rebounds in 15 of 16 games this season, essentially making him a safe bet for 24 PR combined.
He is averaging 28.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season, clearing tonight's 27.5 PR line with just his scoring alone.
Tonight's line is lower because James is likely to play. However, Reaves has cleared this line in all four games James has played this season, with at least 31+ PR in each.
Those trends also continue against the Suns as he had 20 points and four rebounds in three of the four meetings last season. He cleared this line in three of four games against the Suns last year and in 14 of 16 games this season.
I like him to get at least 30 PR tonight. Reaves figures to get a more preferable matchup with Dillon Brooks, likely guarding Doncic and/or James.
However, Doncic will still get his as he has scored 30 points in each of his last six games against the Suns. He has scored 41 points in the lone game he has played on the second night of back-to-back this season in Milwaukee.
If Doncic and Reaves are scoring, that will help James pick up several assists. He has six assists in each of his first four games this season, while averaging 8.3 per game.
I will cap this parlay with Grayson Allen for 10 points, which he has cleared in each of his last 10 games.
The Lakers give up 13.7 3-pointers per game this season, which should tee up a few open looks for him.
Pick: Austin Reaves Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds (-120, bet365)
Suns vs. Lakers Parlay Picks
- Luka Doncic 30+ Points
- LeBron James 6+ Assists
- Austin Reaves 25+ Points and Rebounds
- Grayson Allen 10+ Points
Parlay Odds: +244 via DraftKings
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread in this contest.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline as well.
Over/Under
My Lakers vs Suns betting prediction is on Austin Reaves to go over 27.5 points + rebounds.
Lakers vs Suns Betting Trends
