It may not be the 1980s anymore, but one of the most classic rivalries in all of sports - not just the NBA - features the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. That's exactly what we get to enjoy to tip off the Prime Video doubleheader, so we’ve added to it with our best Lakers vs. Celtics predictions for tonight.

To make this iconic rivalry even more special, beyond just Lakers vs. Celtics picks, will be a guaranteed 10x Novig Sportsbook promo code bonus - available in over 40 states!

Lakers vs. Celtics Predictions for NBA on Prime, 12/5

Long gone are the days of Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird, but the 2020 version of that is LeBron James vs. Jayson Tatum. Well, it would be if not for Tatum still nursing his torn Achilles tendon rupture from the playoffs. Similarly, we also saw Luka Doncic miss last night’s win over the Toronto Raptors for personal reasons.

LeBron James DID play (his streak of games with 10+ points finally snapped after nearly 1,300 games), but BOTH of these teams are on a back-to-back. So, now the question is, will LeBron James play tonight? As if there wasn’t enough to factor into our Lakers vs. Celtics predictions, we also saw Jaylen Brown miss last night’s win over the Washington Wizards with an illness.

If this were a Christmas Day game, we’d expect these stars and teams in general to pull out all the stops, but of course, it’s not. Both teams were also on the road last night for their victories, so both have to head to TD Garden today. As you can see, there are plenty of moving parts for this classic matchup, but let’s find a best bet from our Lakers vs. Celtics predictions.

 

 

 

Lakers vs. Celtics Best Bet: Austin Reaves Over 31.5 Points (-112 at Novig)

Luka Doncic missed last night’s game due to the birth of his second child. Given that event with this game just 24 hours later AND the Lakers vs. Celtics odds heavily favoring Boston, don’t expect him to be on the court tonight. That also suggests that LA may not want LeBron James playing on back-to-back nights.

Furthermore, we very well may see Jaylen Brown back for the home team. It’s all a perfect recipe for a Boston victory, but is that the best value for our Lakers vs. Celtics predictions? They’ve been all over the map this season, even if we did just see them blow the doors off the Wizards last night.

Even if they do take down the depleted Lakers, we don’t want to trust them with such a significant point spread. Instead, we’re going to target Austin Reaves in a spot in which he takes over games - the games in which Luka Doncic is out. In previous such instances, Reaves has gone for 28 and a whopping 51 points!

Admittedly, that’s why his line has been increased, but he simply has to carry the squad tonight. We don’t have the game total overall as well, but the best bet from our Lakers vs. Celtics predictions is Austin Reaves over 31.5 points (-112 at Novig). 
 

 

 

How To Watch Lakers vs. Celtics Tonight

We shared at the start that this is the first game of the Prime Video doubleheader, and since it’s also the first game of the entire night, we’ve shared how to watch Lakers vs. Celtics tonight so that you don't miss a second of the action:

  • Where: TD Garden in Boston, MA
  • When: 7 PM ET on 12/5
  • Watch on TV: Local stations
  • Where to stream: Prime Video

 

 

 

Lakers vs. Celtics Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

With plenty of moving parts in terms of who will and won’t be on the court, you’ll also want to have the latest Lakers vs. Celtics odds for tonight at Novig Sportsbook:

 

 

Lakers vs. Celtics Injury Report & Latest News

We’ve had to note Lakers vs. Celtics injuries from the start given how significant they are, so let’s recap. Expect for both Luka Doncic and LeBron James to be OUT for LA. For Boston, expect Jaylen Brown to play. As always, keep tabs on more than just Lakers vs. Celtics injuries with the Fantasy Alarm NBA injury report.
 

 

 

How To Make Lakers vs. Celtics Picks at Novig Sportsbook & Claim Your $50 Bonus w/ Promo Code ALARM

Even if you just want to kick back and enjoy this classic rivalry without actually locking in a pick from our Lakers vs. Celtics predictions, here’s how to score a guaranteed 10x Novig promo code bonus:

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This peer-to-peer sportsbook is legal in over 40 states, which is reason alone to get started! Again, even if you don’t end up making Lakers vs. Celtics picks at all, becoming a new member today with our exclusive Novig NBA promo code ALARM!
 

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