The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Phoenix Suns for a Western Conference clash in the NBA on Sunday. Los Angeles is 40-25 on the season and currently fifth in the conference standings while Phoenix is 31-36 and sits 11th, 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks. This will be the fourth and final meeting between these two teams in the regular season. The Suns have won two of the first three matchups, but the Lakers have covered the spread in two of those three games.
This time around, tipoff from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Lakers are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Lakers vs. Suns odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 229.5. Before making any Suns vs. Lakers picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 148-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 19-10 (65%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Lakers vs. Suns 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Suns vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Suns spread: Los Angeles -3.5
- Lakers vs. Suns over/under: 229.5 points
- Lakers vs. Suns money line: Los Angeles -159, Phoenix +135
- LAL: The Lakers have covered the spread in their last five home games
- PHX: The Suns are 5-1 against the spread over their last six games
- Lakers vs. Suns picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Lakers vs. Suns streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Lakers can cover
Los Angeles enters Sunday on a four-game losing streak and is now facing pressure from the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves that could drive the franchise back into the NBA play-in tournament. LeBron James is out with a leg injury and Luka Doncic is listed as probable with a calf injury but should be in the lineup after taking the second night of a back-to-back off on Friday against the Nuggets.
Without Doncic and James, the Lakers still covered as 15.5-point underdogs against the Nuggets in a 131-126 loss. Austin Reaves stepped up to make the Lakers competitive with 37 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and four steals, while rookie Dalton Knecht had 32 points. Doncic and Jaxson Hayes (knee) likely returning to the Lakers’ lineup should give Los Angeles a boost on Sunday. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Suns can cover
Meanwhile, Phoenix faced some understandable criticism for standing pat at the NBA trade deadline but is still fighting to give its veteran core a shot at making a playoff run by getting into the NBA play-in tournament picture. The Suns earned a critical 122-106 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday to aid that pursuit and it was Kevin Durant and Devin Booker leading the way in the victory.
Booker had 22 points and 13 assists while Durant added 22 points of his own. The Suns shot a blistering 55.8% from the 3-point line (24-of-43) and Tyus Jones went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc to supply 20 points off the bench. Phoenix has covered the spread in five of its last six games and has covered in each of its past seven games against Pacific Division opponents. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Lakers vs. Suns picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Suns vs. Lakers 10,000 times and is leaning Under the total, projecting 225 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Suns vs. Lakers on Sunday, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Suns spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
Where to bet on NBA games
Here are some of the sportsbooks to bet on NBA games today, along with the various NBA sportsbook promos they currently offer.
