All Lakers Expert Predictions For Wizards Clash On Second Night Of Back-To-Back
Tonight, hot off a 128-111 demolition of the 23-52 Toronto Raptors (they handed Toronto its 14th straight defeat), the Los Angeles Lakers look to keep the good vibes going with a win against the 15-61 Washington Wizards, who have had a better-than-expected recent run (they've won four of their last ten games, which for them is good).
Los Angeles has gone 4-1 across this current six-game road trip, and this matchup is happily the grand finale before the club can come home.
We're here to answer all your burning questions.
Will both of the Lakers' All-Stars play tonight?
Forward LeBron James and center Anthony Davis both played fewer than 29 minutes against the Raptors last night. Davis didn't even suit up for the fourth quarter of the contest at all. Darvin Ham seemed to suggest that both would play. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that the two future Hall of Famers are questionable this evening. At 39, James is the Lakers' oldest player, and it might behoove him to rest (he has a lingering left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) with the postseason approaching. I'd expect at least Davis (who has a hyperextended left knee) to grin and bear it.
How will Los Angeles defend Kyle Kuzma?
The highest-paid Wizard, ex-Warriors combo guard Jordan Poole (he's making a $27.4 million base salary and has $3.8 million in unlikely incentives), is hardly a threat. The second-highest-paid Wizard is Kuzma (he's making $25.6 million), who won a title as a key bench piece for the Lakers in 2020. Kuzma is the team's top offensive threat by a mile, averaging 22.3 points on .463/.335/.774 shooting splits, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 steals a night. Ex-Wizard Rui Hachimura, who essentially is a Kuzma replacement on this current Lakers roster, should get the initial nod on Kuzma defensively, but look for Davis to handle Kuzma inside.
Can LA beat tonight's spread?
The Lakers are currently -12.5 point favorites against the Wizards on the road tonight, per The Action Network. Assuming only Davis suits up, look for LA to win, but not cover the spread. This Wizards team is coming off a win against the Bucks last night, after all. With nothing to lose and its season in the tank, Washington finally seems to have stumbled onto, well, something.
