The late game on Thursday’s NBA schedule, Lakers at Thunder, loses some luster because Los Angeles star LeBron James will sit out yet again due to injury.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled without LeBron James this season, and the superstar isn’t going to play yet again Thursday night in Oklahoma City due to his groin injury. L.A. has had unacceptable home losses to bad teams like the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers without LeBron.

It’s the second of three meetings this season between the Lakers and Thunder. L.A. returns to Oklahoma City on April 2. The Thunder won in Los Angeles on Jan. 2, 107-100. L.A. native Paul George, who spurned signing with the Lakers as a free agent this past summer, had 37 points to lead the Thunder. Russell Westbrook, another L.A. native, was an atrocious 3-for-20 shooting for 14 points but added 16 rebounds and 10 assists. No Lakers starter had more than 17 points; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led with 25 off the bench. Kyle Kuzma sat out the second half with a bruised lower back.

The Lakers were 1-1 in Oklahoma City last year and have gone 5-14 all-time in the regular season at Chesapeake Energy Arena in the city. That includes two losses when the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated there.

Oklahoma City is 10-4 ATS in the past 14 meetings.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers improved to 4-7 without James by beating the wretched Chicago Bulls 107-100 on Tuesday in Los Angeles – two days after the Lakers were upset by an even worst Cleveland team. Embattled coach Luke Walton made a lineup change, benching Josh Hart for Caldwell-Pope, who had 17 points.

Lonzo Ball led with 19 points, adding eight rebounds and six assists. LeBron has been ruled out of at least the next two games, meaning he will miss 13 in a row for the first time in his amazing career. L.A. is 2-7-1 ATS in its past 10 following a victory.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City is in a funk right now, especially defensively, as it lost for the fourth time in five games Tuesday, 142-126 at a bad Atlanta Hawks team. OKC was outscored by 15 in the second and 19 in the fourth. The Hawks’ point total was a season high and they hit 18 of 37 from deep. Westbrook had 31 points and 11 assists, and George 24 points, but even George admitted his team was “flat.” That can happen when a club takes a one-game trip to a bad team as happened Tuesday.

Even with that ugly effort, OKC leads the NBA with a defensive rating of 103.6 (points per 100 possessions). The Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their past five following a double-digit loss.

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Lance Stephenson (SG)

Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19

Mike Muscala (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19

Oklahoma City

Hamidou Diallo (SG)

Out indefinitely Elbow - 14 / 04 / 19

Nerlens Noel (PF)

Prob Wed Quadricep - 18 / 03 / 19

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Sat Neck - 16 / 03 / 19

Markieff Morris (PF)

Out Thurs Neck - 12 / 03 / 19

Markieff Morris (PF)

Ques Fri Neck - 20 / 02 / 19

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Prob Fri Personal - 11 / 02 / 19

Jerami Grant (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 02 / 19

Alex Abrines (SG)

Out Sat Personal - 06 / 02 / 19

Abdel Nader (SF)

Prob Tues Illness - 03 / 02 / 19

Terrance Ferguson (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 29 / 01 / 19

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lance Stephenson (SG)	Ques Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	2-2	+ -
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 26 / 03 / 19	7-2	4-5	+ -
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 19	7-3	4-6	+ -
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 03 / 19	7-5	5-7	+ -
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Hamidou Diallo (SG)	Out indefinitely	Elbow - 14 / 04 / 19	2-3	2-3	+ -
Diallo is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and it is unknown if he will return during the playoffs.
Nerlens Noel (PF)	Prob Wed	Quadricep - 18 / 03 / 19	7-10	8-8-1	+ -
Noel was held out of the previous game with a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Sat	Neck - 16 / 03 / 19	7-11	8-9-1	+ -
Morris is dealing with a neck issue but will likely be available for Saturday's matchup against the Warriors.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Out Thurs	Neck - 12 / 03 / 19	9-12	8-12-1	+ -
Morris was held out of the previous contest with soreness in his neck and will not play against the Pacers on Thursday.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Ques Fri	Neck - 20 / 02 / 19	10-20	12-17-1	+ -
Morris is sidelined with a neck injury and it is unknown if he will make his team debut Friday against the Jazz.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Prob Fri	Personal - 11 / 02 / 19	12-20	12-19-1	+ -
Schroder has sat out the past two games due to the birth of his child but is expected back Friday against the Jazz.
Jerami Grant (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 10 / 02 / 19	13-20	12-20-1	+ -
Grant has missed the previous two games with a right ankle sprain. It is expected he will be available against the Jazz on Friday.
Alex Abrines (SG)	Out Sat	Personal - 06 / 02 / 19	14-21	14-20-1	+ -
Abrines was absent from the lineup during the last game due to a personal matter and he will not play against the Rockets on Saturday.
Abdel Nader (SF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 03 / 02 / 19	15-21	15-20-1	+ -
Nader sat out the previous game due to illness but is expected to be available against the Magic on Tuesday.
Terrance Ferguson (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 29 / 01 / 19	17-21	16-21-1	+ -
Ferguson was absent from the lineup during the last game due to mid-back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available against the Heat on Friday.

Lakers vs. Thunder Prediction