Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
Following a brief slump, the Oklahoma City Thunder have hit a fine patch of form, securing three consecutive victories. They continue their road trip through California, this time facing the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers
The main issue for the Lakers lies in their defence. They are conceding nearly 117 points per game, placing them alongside the league's clear underdogs. Only their offence, which scores almost 116 points, keeps them afloat. Their leader, Anthony Davis, is having an exceptional season, showcasing his best offensive play. He averages around 29 points on 55.5% shooting from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are dealing with significant challenges due to an injury to their main centre, Chet Holmgren. The absence of a big man in the paint is heavily impacting their defence against top centres. In a recent game, Domantas Sabonis put up 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Offensively, the Thunder are not excelling. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's contributions of 29.5 points and 6.4 assists, the team is only scoring 114 points per game.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
The key factor in this matchup will be defence, specifically whether the visitors can contain the onslaught of Anthony Davis. Personally, we believe that without Chet Holmgren, this becomes an almost impossible task, giving the Lakers an excellent chance to capitalise on this game.
