Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, 5/23/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns

Date: Sunday, May 23, 2021

Location: Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, AZ

TV: ABC

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (-1)

Phoenix Suns Arena is the venue where and the Phoenix Suns (51-21) will take on the Los Angeles Lakers (42-30) on Sunday. The odds on this matchup have Los Angeles as 1-point favorites. The total opens at 214.5.

The Los Angeles Lakers stepped onto the hardwood against the New Orleans Pelicans and went home with a win by a final score of 110-98 in their last contest. Los Angeles finished the game with a 46.9% FG percentage (45 of 96) and converted 11 of their 35 shots from 3-point land. From the charity stripe, the Lakers made 9 of 15 attempts for a percentage of 60.0%. Concerning pulling down rebounds, they collected a total of 42 with 8 of them being of the offensive variety. They also doled out 30 assists for this contest while forcing 21 turnovers and having 14 steals. In terms of defense, Los Angeles allowed 47.4% from the floor on 37 of 78 shooting. New Orleans recorded 26 dimes and had 4 steals in this matchup. On top of that, New Orleans collected 47 rebounds (8 offensive, 39 defensive) and had 5 rejections. New Orleans went 71.4% from the free throw line by burying 15 of 21 shots. They also knocked down 9 of their 25 attempts from distance.

LeBron James is one player who was a contributor for this game. He finished with 25 points on 11 out of 22 shooting. He was on the court for 27:28 minutes and collected 1 board. James finished the contest at 50.0% from the field and also recorded 6 assists. One more player that was a major contributor in this matchup for the Lakers was Anthony Davis. He pulled down 5 rebounds in his 30:17 minutes on the hardwood. He finished shooting 41.7% from the floor in the matchup by going 5-of-12 (14 points). When the final whistle blew, Davis had accumulated 1 assist.

Los Angeles heads into this game with a record of 42-30 for the season. They lose possession by turning the ball over 15.2 times per game and as a basketball team they commit 19.1 fouls per game. As a unit, Los Angeles is snagging 44.2 boards per game and is sitting with 1,775 assists so far this season, which ranks 15th in the NBA in terms of passing the rock. The Lakers are hitting 35.4% on shots beyond the perimeter (796 of 2,248) and 73.9% from the free throw line. They currently have an average of 109.5 pts per game (22nd in the NBA) while connecting on 47.2% from the floor. On the defensive end, the Lakers are able to force 15.2 turnovers every game and they draw 21.3 personal fouls. The Lakers defense is allowing and opponent field goal percentage of 46.0% (1,095 of 1,530) and they surrender 42.0 boards per contest as a group. They currently rank 13th in the league in giving up assists to their opponents with 1,776 relinquished this year. They are surrendering 35.2% from beyond the arc and they are ranked 2nd in the NBA in points per game allowed (106.8).

For their last game, the Phoenix Suns walked away with a victory by a final of 123-121 when they faced the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns recorded 38 defensive boards and 10 offensive rebounds for a total of 48 in the game. They coughed up the ball 8 times, while getting 7 steals in the game. The Spurs were called for 8 fouls for this contest which took the Suns to the charity stripe for 4 tries. They were able to convert 4 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 100.0%. When talking about 3-point attempts, Phoenix knocked down 13 of their 35 tries (37.1%). Overall, the Suns shot 53 for 104 from the floor which had them shooting 51.0%. The Suns allowed the Spurs to knock down 50 of 98 attempts from the floor which had them shooting 51.0% for this contest. They finished 29.2% from three-point range by connecting on 7 out of 24 and ended up going 14 of 19 from the free throw line (73.7%). In the matter of rebounding, Phoenix allowed San Antonio to pull down 46 in all (11 on the offensive side).

Jevon Carter was important for the Suns for the contest. He converted 9 of 22 for this contest giving him a field goal percentage of 40.9%, and had 10 rebounds. Carter tallied 19 points in his 42:32 mins on the hardwood and had 9 dimes in this matchup. Someone else that ended being a contributor for Phoenix was Cameron Payne. He walked away with 6 assists in 27:28 mins played, and he knocked down 7 out of 14 from the floor. Payne finished going 50.0% from the field as well as totaling 19 points and 4 rebounds.

Phoenix has a record of 51-21 for the year. The Suns commit 19.1 fouls per contest and they hit 83.4% from the free throw line. They are earning an assist 26.9 times per game (3rd in basketball) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 12.5 times per game. Phoenix has 8,300 points on the season (115.3 per game) and they pull down 42.9 boards per contest. As an offensive unit, the Suns are connecting on 49.0% from the floor, which ranks them 2nd in the league. The Suns on defense are ranked 7th in the NBA in points allowed per game with 109.5. They have relinquished 22.9 dimes and 42.7 boards on a nightly basis, which has them ranked 4th and 9th in basketball. The Phoenix defense concedes 35.4% on three-point shots (836 of 2,359) and their opponents are connecting on 77.8% of their foul shots. They are able to force 13.6 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 46.7% from the field (15th in the league).

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Phoenix (+1)

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