Rivalry week continues across the NBA with a must-watch matchup in SoCal. The Lakers (26-16, 6th in West) will hope to bolster their record against the Clippers (19-24, 10th in West). The Purple and Gold, when healthy, have enough talent to challenge any squad. With that being said, the home team is on a roll, winning six of their last seven games.
Which of these crosstown rivals has the edge on Thursday? The Clippers are favored by 1.5 points (-102) over the Lakers, with the over/under set at 222.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s Battle of LA showdown.
Lakers vs. Clippers prop bet picks
LeBron James 23+ points (-110)
At this point, Luka Doncic is the face of the franchise for Los Angeles. Still, many fans and pundits are far too eager to write off LeBron James. The ageless wonder remains a dominant force, even if he no longer plays at an MVP level. Through 25 games, The King is averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists. In addition, he’s shooting an efficient 51% from the field (33% 3PT). It’s taken some time, but LBJ has looked sharp as a scorer recently. The four-time MVP has tallied at least 20 points in nine of his last ten outings.
Austin Reaves (calf) won’t take the floor tonight for the Lakers. That leaves Doncic and James as the team’s primary options on offense. In 15 games played without Reaves this season, LeBron is averaging 25.9 points. That bodes well for the forward, even against a stout defense. James has scored at least 25 points in nine of his last ten meetings with the Clippers. In addition, Kawhi Leonard (knee) is currently listed as questionable. Even if the wing does suit up, he won’t be at 100%. A vintage performance from the future Hall-of-Famer is the expectation tonight.
Ivica Zubac under 10.5 rebounds (-130)
Thursday’s contest means something more to Ivica Zubac. The former Lakers center has often thrived when going up against his old team. Still, it’s not as if he saves his best for this matchup alone. Over 37 games, the 28-year-old has accounted for 14.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in addition to 61% shooting. If nothing else, the big man is a reliable presence for an otherwise inconsistent Clippers squad. His 21 double-doubles rank fifth in the NBA this season.
For all of Zubac’s strengths, this is a prime spot to fade him on the glass. That’s due to the strides that the Lakers have taken in that regard this season. They’ve held opponents to an NBA-low 48.5 rebounds per game. Deandre Ayton, if nothing else, has done a solid job when it comes to boxing out opposing centers. Zubac has recorded less than 11 boards in four of his last five games against the Lakers. It’s difficult to envision him surpassing that total on Thursday.
