Los Angeles Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets 1/25/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Matchup Preview (1/25/22)

Luckily for the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis is expected to be back in uniform for their game in Brooklyn on Tuesday night. Hopefully, this will not impact LeBron James’s offensive output as he is currently playing beyond an MVP level. If James and Davis can co-exist on Tuesday night and for the remainder of the season, then who knows what could happen. For the Nets, they can’t seem to get their whole team on the floor for more than one or two games every few months. Unfortunately, Kevin Durant is out with an MCL sprain, and Kyrie Irving is still not playing home games. In turn, this will put a tremendous amount of work onto the shoulders of James Harden, who is very capable of handling it, but may not have the supporting cast necessary to be successful as a team. Check out the paragraph below where I go into my favorite bets for this game and outline which I think will win and why.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds

One might say that home-court advantage applies to all teams; however, I would make an argument that it does not apply to the Brooklyn Nets, and not just because Kyrie Irving cannot play in those games. For whatever reason, the Nets have been abysmal at home. While many other teams yearn for games in front of their fans, Brooklyn would rather play on the road. At least, that’s what its record suggests. I don’t feel comfortable betting the Nets ATS at home, especially without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Lakers will be my play, even though I am not all that happy with the current state of their team.

TV Schedule

Date: 1/25/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
Channel: TNT

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Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Malik Monk
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis

Los Angeles Lakers Analysis

Before the Miami Heat game, which they also lost, It had been a rough past six games for the Los Angeles Lakers, having gone 2-4, including two losses at home. Los Angeles lost to the Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz in that span. The Pacers and Grizzlies were the two teams that grabbed wins on the road against the Lakers. While they did beat the Jazz at home, I would not put too much enthusiasm on that win: everyone has been beating the Jazz recently. During that six-game slump, the Lakers have allowed opponents to score 116 points per game on nearly 49% from the field and 37% from three. Offensively, Los Angeles has shot roughly 45% in that time, with a relatively decent three-point percentage (35.5%), so scoring has not been the issue. Therefore, it is clear that the Lakers have been playing some of the worst defense in the NBA in the past week or two. Los Angeles lost by six points in their most recent game against the Miami Heat despite 33 points from LeBron and a near triple-double from Russell Westbrook. If the Lakers make the playoffs, LeBron should be considered a frontrunner for MVP, in my opinion.

Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup

PG: Patty Mills
SG: James Harden
SF: Kessler Edwards
PF: James Johnson
C: LaMarcus Aldridge

Brooklyn Nets Analysis

It’s another home game for the Brooklyn Nets; therefore, Kyrie Irving will be unavailable once again due to the vaccine mandate in the state of New York. There were talks of the Nets paying the fine they would receive and allowing Irving to play regardless, and those never went anywhere. Additionally, the Nets will be without Kevin Durant due to an MCL sprain that will force him to miss 4-to-6 weeks. Other players who will be unable to play include Joe Harris, Nic Claxton, and Paul Millsap. The past month has been about as inconsistent for the Nets as it has been for the Lakers: Brooklyn is 5-5 in its past ten games featuring losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Daily Fantasy Picks

There is no denying that LeBron James should be in the MVP conversation, even though the Lakers are a tragedy. While LeBron can play all five positions, he cannot do so in five different bodies. On the season, LeBron averages 29 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in addition to 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks. These numbers are other-worldly. James was more passive at the beginning of the season, often attempting to operate as a secondary scorer to Anthony Davis. This push for him to recall his Cleveland days on the offensive end was primarily due to two things: Anthony Davis playing terribly and then his injury shortly after that. Without Davis, LeBron has put up 32.7 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists per game in the 2021-22 NBA season. Even though Davis is expected to be back for this one, don’t think that James will let off the gas. He is worth every penny in DFS, and he will be a terrific play with a matchup like this.

It’s simple. James Harden should be a serious consideration in DFS, especially against a defense as bad as the Los Angeles Lakers. Without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Harden will once again be forced to step up and contribute a significant amount offensively, with much higher usage than previously this season. Specifically, Harden has averaged 28 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.4 rebounds in nine games without Durant. The scary thing is that he has not even shot well from the floor in those games. His percentage from the field is sub-40%, while his three-point percentage is hardly over 30%. What happens if you catch Harden on a hot night with this kind of usage? You will be reminded of how it was not long ago that he was putting up historic numbers in Houston.