The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns collide at the Footprint Center on Friday night. This is their first meeting of the 2023-24 NBA season, which is also part of the league’s In-Season Tournament. Head coach Darvin Ham and the rest of the Laker squad struggle to gain traction since their last win over the Clippers. Los Angeles is on the verge of losing four games in a row and dropping outside the Western Conference standings top ten. Meanwhile, the Suns have a bit of pace with back-to-back wins.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns Game Information

"We got down and we battled back…And we are 1-0 with Bradley Beal in the lineup."

️ Head Coach Frank Vogel pic.twitter.com/MNTTDmSAyY

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 9, 2023

• When: Friday, November 10th, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
• Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: ESPN LA 710 (Lakers) // Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Suns)
• Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Odds: Lakers (+4) // Suns (-4)

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a dry spell right now. They dropped their last three games and are coming off a 34-point loss at the hands of the Rockets. It’s been a tough few days for this squad, and their injury report doesn’t paint positive narratives leading up to Friday night’s clash. Anthony Davis has been on the list since sustaining a groin injury. He already missed their previous clash versus Houston. Gabe Vincent (knee) will be out for at least two more weeks along with Jarred Vanderbilt (heel).

We’ve seen the Lakers struggle on both ends of the floor. On the attacking end, the squad averages 109.0 points per game (22nd) on 47.1% shooting (14th). Although they are the fourth-best two-point shooting team now at 56.6%, they must do better from deep to keep up with heavy hitters. Los Angeles currently hits 29.6% (30th) of their looks from the three-point range.

Defensively, the team limits opponents \to 116.3 points per game (22nd) on 47.1% shooting (18th). They have a better interior defense that limits competitors to 53.1% (14th) but only manage a 37.2% opponent three-point percentage (22nd). As for rebounding, the Lakers average 51.0 total boards (22nd) per game.

Why Bet on the Phoenix Suns?

Phoenix’s performance falls between the scales reflected by the team’s 4-4 record. This also puts them in the middle of the Western Conference standings as the seventh seed. After back-to-back losses to the Spurs followed by a Sixers defeat, the team pulled themselves together for a pair of wins versus the Pistons and the Bulls, respectively.

The hosts come into the clash averaging 112.5 points per game (16th) on 46.2% shooting. Their shooting stats dissected highlight a 53.0% two-point (21st), 36.2% three-point (15th), and 82.7% free-throw (fifth) percentages. Defensively, the Suns limit opponents to 111.0 points per game (12th) on 45.3% shooting (eighth). Furthermore, the Suns hold a ninth-best total rebounds per game record at 54.5 total boards per game.

Devon Booker and Damion Lee are two players on the injury list. The starting guard is nursing a calf injury that ruled him out of Phoenix’s previous game versus the Bulls. He will stay on the list until further notice. This leaves scoring duties on the shoulders of two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant. The forward finished his recent appearance with 41 points, four rebounds, and five assists in their win against the Pistons.

Lakers vs. Suns Betting Trends

• The Los Angeles Lakers are 2-3 against the spread in their last five games.
• The Lakers are 2-3 in their last five games.
• The totals have gone under in three of the Lakers’ last five contests.
• The Phoenix Suns are 1-2 against the spread in their last three games.
• The Suns are 1-2 in their last three games at Footprint Center.
• The totals have gone over in three of the Suns’ last three home contests.

Lakers vs. Suns Expert Betting Prediction

The Phoenix Suns begin to build momentum with a few wins secured. They are easily the better team on paper if injury woes are out of the picture. However, if Booker fails to get cleared for the game, they might have to work with a different starting lineup. This means the focal point of the offense is in Kevin Durant’s hands. They still hold an advantage over the Lakers thanks to the ever-reliable Footprint Center crowd. Meanwhile, the Lakers could lose Anthony Davis for a second game. This cripples the team in terms of rebounding presence and a solid chunk of scoring. Covering the spread is within reach, but a win demands quality performance on both ends.

Where to Bet on NBA with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2023-24 NBA Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire NBA Season betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023-24 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

READ MORE: Bucks vs. Pacers 2023 NBA Odds and Preview – November 9th