The Lakers are headed to Boston in one of the most anticipated regular season matchups of the year. The Lakers have won eight straight as LeBron James and Luka Doncic mesh into the core of one of the best teams in the West. They’ll visit the defending champion Celtics, who have been without some of their regulars lately but are still 9-2 in their last 11 games with a firm hold of the No. 2 seed in the East. The history of these franchises and this rivalry in addition to their strong current form should set up a great matchup at TD Garden. Let’s take a look at my top three Lakers vs. Celtics prop bets from the player prop market on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Celtics are 7.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook in this matchup, which has a point total of 227.5. The Lakers listed both Luka and LeBron probable on their injury report, while Jaxson Hayes (knee) is questionable and Rui Hachimura (knee) will miss a fifth straight game. For the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is questionable but said he will play. Jrue Holiday (finger) and Sam Hauser (ankle) are also questionable, but the other Celtics who missed a game earlier this week are all ready to go.
Best Prop Bets for Lakers vs. Celtics on DraftKings Sportsbook
Derrick White over 15.5 points (-120)
White has scored at least 16 points in eight of the Celtics’ last nine games. Some of that was while filling in for Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, but he’s been steady enough to like him at this number even with the Celtics getting most of their rotation healthy. He could lose some usage if Holiday returns, but he still always seems to find a way to make a difference in big games like this regardless of who is with him in the rotation.
On Thursday, he only had 12 points after losing a tooth in the first half, but he still came back for the second half of that game, although his shot was a little off. The night before, White had 41 points against the Trail Blazers, which was his eighth straight game over this number.
Earlier this year against the Lakers, White only played 19 minutes and finished with three points, but he should be able to have a much better night this Saturday. In his home games, he is averaging 17.3 points on the season, and he has scored at least 16 points in 65% of his games this season.
Another way to back White is to play him for over 3.5 three-pointers (+105). He had made at least four three-pointers in six straight contests before making just two long-range shots on Thursday in his limited work. While he isn’t the biggest name in this matchup, he has some of my favorite Lakers vs. Celtics prop bets.
Luka Doncic over 8.5 assists (+114)
Luka didn’t take long to settle in with the reins of the Lakers’ offense. He has played over 33 minutes in six straight games and has handed out at least nine assists in three straight.
He had exactly nine assists against the Clippers last Sunday, then handed out 15 helpers against the Pelicans and 12 dimes in the overtime win over the Knicks on Thursday.
The Celtics will be focused on getting the ball out of his hands as they were in the NBA Finals last year. He went over this number just once in that five-game series against Boston, but with LeBron and the rest of his teammates fitting in nicely around him right now, Luka is a nice play at plus-money to get at least nine dimes this Saturday.
Jaylen Brown over 1.5 three-pointers (-115)
Brown has made multiple three-pointers in 56% of his games this season and 14 of his last 16 matchups against LeBron James. He has also scored at least 20 points in each of Boston’s last nine home games against teams with a winning record.
He made three three-pointers against the Lakers earlier this season and had made at least two three-pointers in five straight games before going 0-for-4 from long range on Wednesday against Portland.
He sat out Thursday’s game with a right knee posterior impingement, but he is not on the injury report for Saturday. In his last four games returning after missing a game, he made multiple threes four times, including a 37-point game against the Cavs last Friday in which he hit four three-pointers.
It’s definitely no lock, but Brown typically plays well in tougher matchups and typically shoots more often and more effectively at home than on the road. His three-point play is one of my top Lakers vs. Celtics prop bets.
