Suns vs. Lakers prediction and odds for Wednesday, March 22 (Phoenix bounces back)
By Peter Dewey
The Phoenix Suns are coming off a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their last game, but they’re in action on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis.
The Suns won’t have Kevin Durant or Deandre Ayton in this game, but the team is a surprising 8-2 when Ayton sits so far this season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are still without LeBron James and Mo Bamba, putting a lot of pressure on Anthony Davis to deliver on offense.
Los Angeles is half a game out of the play-in tournament in the West, currently holding the No. 11 seed. Meanwhile, the Suns have an inside track to a top four spot after Paul George went down with a potentially serious injury on Tuesday night.
Can Phoenix pull off the road win without two of its top players? Or will the Lakers pick up a much-needed win?
Let’s examine the latest odds and my best bet for this matchup:
Suns vs. Lakers odds, spread and total
Suns vs. Lakers prediction and pick
There’s no doubt that the Suns are a little weak depth wise when both Durant and Ayton are out, but I still think they can win this game against the Lakers.
Los Angeles has struggled a bit with playoff-level competition, losing to the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks this month.
I am concerned with how the Suns matchup against Davis, but Los Angeles doesn’t have a true defensive stopper on the wing to deal with Devin Booker.
Jarred Vanderbilt may draw the assignment, but that’s a tough ask for the Lakers forward.
Phoenix has rebounded well after losses this season, going 18-13-1 against the spread, and it’s interesting to see how well the Suns have played without Ayton.
That allows for them to space the floor a bit more, and I think they can outshoot a Lakers team that is in the bottom half of the league in 3-point shooting this season.
I’ll take the Suns as one-point favorites tonight.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.