The star power will be out when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
The pregame narrative: The Lakers aren’t the best road team, but I feel they can cover an alternate spread with a healthy lineup. This SGP also includes picks on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Rui Hachimura.
Check out my Lakers vs. Thunder SGP predictions for April 6.
Lakers vs. Thunder predictions
Parlay: Lakers +12.5 | Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 points | Hachimura over 1.5 threes (+340)
Lakers +12.5 (-205): Since acquiring Luka Doncic before the trade deadline, the Lakers are 10-1 against this spread on the road.
I think that’s more important than their overall road record (17-20).
Doncic and LeBron James are enough to keep a team in any game, and the uptick in production from Austin Reaves adds another elite scorer to the mix.
L.A. has also spent a lot time dealing with different injuries across the rotation. James and Hachimura have both missed action recently but should be in the rotation on Sunday.
Of course, James has to have his nightly game-time decision label, but he’s reported as probable to play through his groin injury once again.
Fading the Thunder is a dangerous game to play. I don’t see this as a fade, however, as this simply requires the Lakers to be competitive.
NBA SGP legs
Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 points (-124): The MVP frontrunner had an off night against the Houston Rockets, scoring 22 points on 10-of-22 shooting.
As crazy as it sounds, yes, that was an off night.
Gilgeous-Alexander is having a special scoring season. He’s averaging a league-high 32.6 points on incredible efficiencies (51.9 FG%, 37.1 3PT%).
The Canadian’s doing this while leading the team with the best record in the NBA.
And believe it or not, he’s taken his play to another level in the second half of the season. Take a look at his averages since the all-star break:
- 33.1 PPG
- 51.0 FG%
- 40.2 3PT%
- 90.6 FT%
- 14-7 against this line
SGA had 36 points against the Lakers in their only meeting this season.
Hachimura over 1.5 threes (-148): Hachimura is a perfect fit alongside Doncic in the starting rotation.
He’s an elite catch-and-shoot guy, canning 41.4% of his triples this season.
Hachimura missed most of March with an injury and is building his way back to a full workload. Recent 3-point results have been encouraging, though.
- March 26 vs. Pacers: 4-of-4
- March 29 vs. Grizzlies: 3-of-5
- March 31 vs. Rockets: 1-of-6
- April 3 vs. Warriors: 3-of-6
His playing time is on the rise, which should lead to more 3-point attempts.
And when he’s sniping them at an above-40.0% clip, a couple of makes shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Lakers vs. Thunder predictions made at 11:01 a.m. ET 04/06/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.