Happy 38th birthday LeBron James!
As you get set to blow out the candles, one can only hope your birthday wish involves the health of teammate Anthony Davis, or anything that can help this team get back on track.
L.A. has lost five of their last six games since December 19, now just 14-21 on the season, and 6-13 on the road. They’re six-point underdogs in Atlanta tonight when they face Trae Young and the Hawks from State Farm Arena.
Lots of guards on both rosters are currently listed as day-to-day, with Dennis Schröder, Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker IV all questionable for the Lakers, while Young is also in the same-boat ahead of tonight. Forward DeAndre Hunter is also listed officially as day-to-day.
Can the Lakers deliver a win for their star and make the start of his 39th trip around the sun a bit more enjoyable?
Let’s break down the latest odds, plus give out a Lakers vs. Hawks best bet for tonight:
Lakers vs. Hawks Odds, Spread and Total
Lakers vs. Hawks Prediction and Pick
Rather than focus on a side or total, I’m siding with the OVER on LeBron’s points prop total.
LeBron has been terrific over his career on his birthday; averaging 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists in eight games on his actual date of birth.
“But Ben, those numbers go all the way back to 2003? LeBron is 38 now with a completely different set of teammates and rosters! Why are we even taking them into consideration?”
It’s a fair question, and by no means am I using LeBron’s past as an automatic auto-bet of what’s to come tonight, but consider what he’s put together this year.
Before the last two nights, LeBron had hit 30-plus points in seven consecutive games, scoring no less than 27 even in the two games he failed to hit it, and still finished with over 40 PRA’s (points-rebounds-assists) in every one. Since December 11, LeBron has not shot lower than 50% in any game; remarkably a far more efficient offensive player in the process, and as a result, the higher scoring numbers have come.
With no Anthony Davis, along with potentially several key players, his usage rate will be insanely high. There’s even whispers of him wanting to score his birthday age too!
I’m not thinking twice about this one.
Follow all of Ben’s betting plays in real-time HERE!
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.