The Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings close out Thursday’s loaded NBA slate.
The pregame narrative: LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the focus of this +410 same-game parlay, alongside the under on a teased-up game total.
Check out my Lakers vs. Kings same-game parlay predictions for Dec. 19.
Lakers vs. Kings predictions
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Parlay: James over 1.5 threes + Reaves over 24.5 points/rebounds/assists + Under 240.5 points (+410)
James over 1.5 threes (-159): LeBron went 3-for-6 from deep on Sunday after missing two games with a foot injury, which he anticipates will be “lingering” throughout the season.
But I won’t let that scare me off backing him at this price against a bad defence.
LeBron is taking 5.7 threes per game and is canning them at a respectable 36.5% rate.
He had a brutal stretch from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 where he went 0-for-19, which really brought down that average. But he is 10-of-22 since and has averaged at least two 3s a game since joining Los Angeles in 2018.
The Kings have the second-highest opponent 3-point percentage (37.7%) in the NBA and LeBron hit four against them earlier this season.
SGP legs
Reaves over 24.5 PRA (-105): Los Angeles doesn’t have a “Big Three” but Reaves is integral to the team’s success.
- The shooting guard is averaging 16.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists a night (25.5 PRA).
- Los Angeles is 2-3 without Reaves this season (103.4 PPG) and 12-9 with him (113.2 PPG).
Reaves smashed this total in both games since returning from injury, putting up 30 PRA against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 29 PRA against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sacramento is giving up the second-most points to shooting guards, per Fantasy Pros, and Reaves has cleared this line in four straight games against his divisional rival.
He had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Kings earlier this year.
Under 240.5 points (-278): Taking the under on this teased-up total doubles our SGP’s payout from +205 to +410 thanks to some negative correlation.
And it’s not like I’m asking for crazy performances from James or Reaves on Thursday.
The Lakers have gone under this mark in 11 of their last 12 games with the exception being a 134-132 overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
And even that game ended with 238 points in regulation.
The Kings have played in some barnburners lately but have still cashed this wager in 11 of their last 14 games.
Picks made at 3:08 p.m. on 12/18/24.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.