The 2024 NBA Cup in-season tournament continues on Friday night with a marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, with oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook giving the visiting Lakers a 3.5-point advantage as betting favorites on the spread.
In anticipation of LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama going head to head once again, here's a spread, moneyline, total, and player prop expert pick for this latest meeting in West Group B.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Odds
Odds as of November 15, 2024 at FanDuel
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Expert Picks
San Antonio Spurs ATS +3.5 (-112)
The significance of this game being a part of the in-season tournament may result in a number of starters seeing more minutes for what would have otherwise been just another early-season outing. Both teams are looking to extend their current winning streaks, as well, with the Lakers having strung together three in a row SU while San Antonio has prevailed in its last two.
I'm giving the Spurs an advantage as underdogs here as Los Angeles is actually winless at 0-2 this season when entering as a favorite on the road, where they're also just 1-4 SU and locked for the second-worst record in the Western Conference away from Crypto.com Arena. San Antonio has also found success at the Frost Bank Center at 5-2, having gone 3-1 during this ongoing five-game homestand.
Wembanyama just established a new career-high of 50 points in the Spurs' nine-point win over the Washington Wizards on Nov. 13, and is now averaging 36 points, 12 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, and shooting 54.1 percent from 3-point range over his last three appearances. While James is riding a wave of momentum himself with three-straight triple-doubles at the age of 39, none of those came in his own backyard, and his overall productivity and impact (-12 on road, worst on Lakers) do suffer in opposing environments.
OVER 227 Points (-110)
Both the Lakers and Spurs have OVER/UNDER records at or hovering around the .500 mark, so that's not enough of a base to lean one way or the other.
They're both, however, ranking in the top six in the Association in points scored over the last four games, with each producing at least 120 per night. That does hold some weight here and is enough to favor an OVER connecting, especially when factoring in Los Angeles' 25th-ranked defense.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Player Prop
Stephon Castle OVER 10.5 Points (-120)
The fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft isn't one of the sexier names on the hardwood Friday, yet Stephon Castle is one that's produced enough offense as of late to justify a player points prop on his behalf.
Castle has finished with 10 or more points in four-straight games and five of his last six, averaging 12.2 points on 10.3 shot attempts during that stretch. With Wembanyama being the focal point of Lakers head coach JJ Redick's game plan, and the backcourt duo of D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves never being confused for defensive juggernauts, Castle could quietly be in store for a solid line which should get us over the 10.5-point mark once more.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
- LeBron James has failed to exceed 43.5 points + rebounds + assists in five of his last six games versus a top-10 defense for rebounds allowed (38 points + rebounds + assists/game average).
- Chris Paul has failed to exceed 1.5 steals in five-straight games versus top-10 defenses for steals allowed (0.6 steals/game average).
- Stephon Castle has failed to exceed 6.5 rebounds + assists in nine of his last 11 games (5.3 rebounds + assists/game average).
*all betting trends courtesy of Outlier