All the stars are on display on NBA Christmas Day, but a storied rivalry takes center stage when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will lead the Lakers into the Christmas Day NBA matchup against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Celtics. The teams share the NBA record with 17 championships apiece. The Celtics (22-6) appear to have the inside track to claim No. 18, but the Lakers (15-14) won the NBA In-Season Tournament last month. Boston has won seven of its past eight games and won both meetings between the teams last season. The Lakers had lost four of their past five before facing the Thunder on the road Saturday night.
Tipoff is set for Monday at 5 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. Boston is a 5-point favorite, according to the SportsLine consensus, in the latest Celtics vs. Lakers odds, and the over/under set at 234.5 points. Before making any Lakers vs. Celtics picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 9 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 101-52 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Lakers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Lakers vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Lakers spread: Celtics -5
- Celtics vs. Lakers over/under: 234.5 points
- Celtics vs. Lakers money line: Boston -179, Los Angeles +151
- BOS: Is 16-18 ATS in non-conference games since 2022.
- LAL: Is 11-9 ATS in its last 20 games as a home underdog.
- Celtics vs. Lakers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston won each meeting by four points in overtime last season and has won four of its past five against Los Angeles. The Celtics are 14-12-2 against the spread this season and have won eight of 14 road games. They have the third-best defense in the NBA, allowing 109.8 points per contest. Celtics opponents are shooting 44.7% from the field, fourth-lowest in the league. Tatum (26.8 points ) and Brown (22.7) lead the sixth-best offense in the league (118.9 points per game).
Tatum scored 44 points in last year's meeting in L.A., and Brown had 37 in the victory in Boston. They combined for 136 points and 44 rebounds over the two games. Center Kristaps Porzingis (questionable, ankle) averages 19.2 points and contributes 1.8 to Boston's 6.3 blocked shots per game (fourth in NBA). Tatum, Porzingis and Jrue Holiday all average more than 6.5 rebounds as the Celtics rank third with a 46.9 per-game average. The Lakers score fewer than 114 points per game, ranking 18th in the NBA. See which team to pick here.
Why the Lakers can cover
Los Angeles has been in a funk, but Davis and James -- both officially listed as questionable with ankle injuries -- will be eager to shine in this marquee matchup on the big stage. Davis led the way to that NBA In-Season Tournament championship with a 41-point, 20-rebound performance in a 123-109 victory against the Pacers in the final. James was named tournament MVP after scoring 26.4 points per game and averaging 8.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists James is L.A.'s top scorer at 25.2 per game, with Davis right behind at 24.3.
Davis pulls down 12.4 rebounds per contest, the most in the NBA, and James averages 7.3 assists (10th). D'Angelo Russell averages 6.3 assists, and he and Austin Reaves combine for 30.6 points per game. The Celtics' defensive weakness is holding down the perimeter, as they rank 16th in opponent 3-point percentage (37.1). See which team to pick here.
How to make Celtics vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 227 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Celtics, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 101-52 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
