All Lakers Expert Predictions For Brooklyn Bout Tonight

Can LA extend its win streak to three games?

Tonight, at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN, your 21-21 Los Angeles Lakers will host the 16-24 Brooklyn Nets in a battle of play-in tournament not-quite-contenders.

LA has won four of its last six contests, a happy turnaround from the 3-10 record the club posted following its In-Season Tournament championship over the Indiana Pacers last month. Brooklyn, meanwhile, remains thoroughly mediocre on the year, and is more a conversation point for poachable trade requests than it is for any of its middling on-court work.

Let's answer some of your burning questions ahead of tonight's battle.

Can Los Angeles cover tonight's spread?

According to sports book aggregator The Action Network, Los Angeles is currently a -7 favorite against Brooklyn. Having demonstrably leveled the superior Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, it would appear the Lakers have found something of a groove. Assuming the team can stop leading Nets scorer Mikal Bridges from an unending march to the foul line, I think this should be a fairly winnable contest. Look for LA to cover.

Will D'Angelo Russell continue his hot streak?

Since being returned to LA's starting five, the ex-Net has been absolutely on fire. In that (admittedly brief) span, the 6'3" OSU product has been averaging 27.3 points on .534/.520/1.000 shooting splits, along with 5.7 assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block, while registered a +5.7 plus-minus. Obviously that shooting efficiency won't last long-term, but against current Brooklyn starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, D-Lo should still be able to put up buckets far beyond his cumulative regular season scoring average of 15.7 points per. The Action Network has his over/under pegged at 17.5 points. Take the over.