We have a huge rivalry game coming our way in the form of a Celtics vs. Lakers matchup. On Thursday, the two teams will meet for the second and final time in the regular season. The Lakers won their first bout in the first half of the 2020-21 NBA Season with a tight 1-point lead to end the game 95-96.

This time around, the Celtics are looking to even it out with their rivals at the Staples Center. In the past few weeks, the Celtics dropped down to the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled to adjust without their two key players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and are now sitting on 5th seed in the Western Conference.

Both teams are holding onto similar records in their last 10 games, making it even more exciting for the NitroBetting news team to cover. With that, we present to you an array of information that covers the two participants and key points, updated NBA odds, betting trends, and expert betting predictions.

Be sure to check on all the latest Basketball odds and lines at our online Bitcoin sportsbook before placing your bets!

Celtics vs. Lakers Game Information

#NEBHInjuryReport for tomorrow vs. LA Lakers:

Evan Fournier (Health & Safety Protocols) – OUT

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 15, 2021

• When: Thursday, April 15, 2021, 07:30 PM ET
• Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
• TV: NBA TV / ESPN
• Radio: WBZ-FM (Celtics) / 710 ESPNLA (Lakers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -233 / -6 (-109)/ OU: 212.0

READ MORE: Bucks vs. Hawks NBA Betting Odds, Preview and Pick – April 15, 2021

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics are on fire after taking down some of the playoff contenders this season, including the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers. Their last win brings their streak to 4 games in a row, and they are about to enter the court looking to add a fifth straight win to their record.

Jayson Tatum carries most of the scoring responsibilities for the team, but that’s not to say that the rest of the lineup can’t make a significant effort. In their last outing with the Blazers, we witnessed the starting five put up double-digit scores at the end of the game. Tatum led the scoring with 32 points and 9 rebounds.

Right behind him is Jaylen Brown with 24 points, and Kemba Walker with 21. On top of all that, Marcus Smart is slowly making his way to becoming the third-best scorer for the team, putting up 13 points or more in his last 4 games.

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

At the other end of the spectrum is a Lakers team that features several players on their injury report. In their last game against the Hornets, Alfonzo McKinnie was left out of the lineup after entering the league’s health and safety protocols. The forward was ruled out of the game against the Knicks and will miss a few more in the next week, including this upcoming Celtics vs. Lakers bout.

Anthony Davis is set to return in about 2 weeks after dealing with Achilles tendonitis and a calf strain since February. James’ injury also took a toll on the Lakers, but the team tried to adjust since, giving them a fighting chance in previous games. The Lakers are coming off a 93-101 victory against the Hornets, and it was Kyle Kuzma who led the scoring with 24 points to his name.

Behind him is former Oklahoma Thunder guard Dennis Shroder with 19 points, while Alex Caruso contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds. Expect these 3 names to come up in this rivalry contest.

Celtics vs. Lakers Betting Trends

• The Celtics are 4-1 in their last 5 away games.
• The Celtics are 5-0 against the spread in their last 5 away games.
• The totals have gone under 8 times in the Celtics’ last 10 games.
• The Lakers are 6-4 in their last 10 home games.
• The Lakers are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 home games.
• The totals have gone under 6 times in the Lakers’ last 10 games.

Celtics vs. Lakers Expert Betting Prediction

This will be an intriguing game for the Lakers as they will have to step on the court without their key players, while the Celtics continue to fire on all cylinders.

Nevertheless, the Lakers still have that magic in them, which comes out once in a while. The Celtics will take advantage of this crippled Lakers team, but the latter will not go down without a fight.

Covering the spread remains a huge possibility for the Lakers, with a challenge of winning the match. Ultimately, the Celtics look like the better team leading to this game.

Feel free to browse sports betting guides. While you are at it, go ahead and check out all the latest NBA betting odds and more in our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.