Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Pick & Prediction 3/16/25
At 3:30 ET, the Lakers will host the Suns at Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles is currently favored by 3.5 points and has a moneyline of -160. Phoenix is 11th in the Western Conference and 5th in the Pacific Division with a record of 31-36.
ABC will televise this Western Pacific division matchup. The over/under line is currently set at 230 points. The Lakers have dropped four straight games and are 5th in the West at 40-25. The Suns are +135 on the moneyline and have a spread of +3.5.
PHOENIX SUNS VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Phoenix Suns +3.5
This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 3:30 ET on Sunday, March 16th.
WHY BET THE PHOENIX SUNS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 124-96 in favor of the Suns.
- Our projections have Kevin Durant finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
- From the field, we have the Suns finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.4% and knocking down 14 threes.
Can the Suns Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?
With a 122-106 win over the Kings on Friday, the Suns improved to 31-36 for the season. Phoenix, who were favored by 2 points, covered the spread with a +16 point margin. The game’s total score of 228 points fell just short of the 232.5-point over/under line.
Phoenix started strong with a 13-0 run, pushing the score from 23-15 to 36-15. Although the Kings outscored them 35-26 in the 2nd quarter, the Suns regained control by winning the 3rd quarter 35-25 and held off Sacramento in the 4th, edging them 25-24.
In their win over the Kings, the Suns connected on 24 three-pointers, shooting 55.8% from deep and 51.9% overall. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant each scored 22 points, with Booker adding 13 assists.
Tyus Jones hit 6 threes without a miss, finishing with 20 points. Bradley Beal scored 9 of his 15 points in the 3rd quarter, while Ryan Dunn added 8 of his 16 points in the 4th.
Despite a rough 2nd quarter where the Suns gave up 35 points, they tightened up defensively in the 3rd and 4th, allowing just 25 and 24 points, respectively, to secure the win over the Kings. Phoenix held Sacramento to 8 made threes on 25% shooting from beyond the arc.
Overall, the Suns sent the Kings to the line 20 times, where they made 18 free throws. Phoenix finished with 27 defensive rebounds, giving up 12 offensive boards, while also recording 12 steals and 3 blocks.
Do the Lakers Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?
The Lakers fell to 40-25 on the season after a 131-126 road loss to the Nuggets on Friday. Despite being +15 point underdogs, Los Angeles kept it close and covered the spread. The game’s total of 257 points went well over the line of 229.5.
Los Angeles started strong, leading 40-32 after the 1st quarter, but Denver took control in the 2nd, outscoring the Lakers 39-27. The Lakers trimmed the deficit to 102-99 heading into the 4th, but the Nuggets edged them out 29-27 in the final quarter.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 37 points and 13 assists in their 131-126 loss to the Nuggets, shooting 50% from the field and hitting 4 threes at 40%. Dalton Knecht added 32 points, knocking down 5 threes at 38.5%, with 11 points coming in the 4th quarter. Shake Milton contributed 16 points, shooting 63.6% from the field.
The Lakers made 15 threes as a team, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc and 46.7% overall. Reaves scored 12 points in the 1st quarter and added 9 more in the 4th, while Knecht put up 11 points in the final period.
Defensively, the Lakers struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 39 points, but they did tighten up in the 4th, allowing 29. Overall, they allowed 131 points on 51% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Lakers gave up 13 threes on 41% shooting. They also sent the Nuggets to the line 38 times, where Denver hit 30 free throws. The Lakers recorded 10 steals and 2 blocks.