Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/28/2023

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to watch: ABC

DraftKings: Celtics -7.5; BOS -295, LAL +245; O/U 237

FanDuel: Celtics -7.5; BOS -290, LAL +235; O/U 237

BetMGM: Celtics -7.5; BOS -300, LAL +230; O/U 236.5

Caesars: Celtics -7.5; BOS -303, LAL +240; O/U 237

Lakers: 23-26

Celtics: 35-15

Well, this will make for a rather interesting game all of a sudden. The Los Angeles Lakers are going for their fourth win in five games – and now have a relatively healthy lineup again – when they take on the Boston Celtics as they hope to avoid a fourth straight loss.

The Lakers are hoping to just stay afloat. They got Anthony Davis back from a foot injury while LeBron James has been an eater of worlds and continues to close in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. Los Angeles is coming off a 113-104 win at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Davis had 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in his first game back, and James had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to help pace the Lakers offense. Patrick Beverley even figured out how to score with 18 points in 24 minutes. Rui Hachimura had 12 points and six rebounds in his Lakers debut.after being acquired from the Washington Wizards earlier in the week.

“We were all figuring out ways we could mix and match. We just wanted to get guys in there,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “With AD coming back and Rui being new, we had to work through some kinks. When we got settled into the game, guys had different runs.”

The Lakers’ playoff hopes rest on Davis’ health. We know what we’re going to get from LeBron, as evidence of what he had to do with Davis out. The big man coming back helps a lot. Los Angeles has covered three of four along with winning outright, and has gone 6-4 against the spread in the last 10.

“I was testing the waters at first," Davis said. "Once I saw the ball go through on the second free-throw attempt (in the first quarter), I started playing and doing little things to start to get going.”

But it’s a daunting task for the best team in the Eastern Conference, especially when they haven’t won a game in about a week. The Celtics are coming into Saturday’s game off a 120-117 loss in overtime to the New York Knicks at home on Thursday. Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown had 22 points on 22 shots for Boston, who needed a late rally to even force overtime but still fell short.

“Just got to be better,” Brown said. “Tonight was just a rough game and I’m a better basketball player than I played today. Those two free throws embodied the whole game for me.”

The Celtics have failed to cover in five straight games, even dating back to the tail-end of their seven-game winning streak.

Honestly the toughest call you could make this weekend. If there’s a time to take advantage of a good line on the Lakers, this might be it with the Celtics reeling. Lakers 114, Celtics 111

Lakers are 15-19 ATS as an underdog this season.

Lakers are 6-5 ATS off a home win this season.

Celtics are 6-1 ATS after failing to cover in 5 or 6 of the last 7 this season.

Celtics are 53-29 ATS off an upset loss against a division opponent as a favorite since 1996.

PG: Dennis Schroder

SG: Patrick Beverley

SF: Troy Brown Jr.

PF: LeBron James

C: Anthony Davis

PG: Malcolm Brogdon

SG: Jaylen Brown

SF: Jayson Tatum

PF: Al Horford

C: Robert Williams III

Injury report

Lakers: Lonnie Walker IV (knee, questionable)

Celtics: Marcus Smart (ankle, out)

Points: LeBron James -- 29.9

Rebounds: LeBron James -- 8.5

Assists: Russell Westbrook -- 7.5

Points: Jayson Tatum -- 31.1

Rebounds: Jayson Tatum -- 8.7

Assists: Marcus Smart -- 7.2