One look at the NBA standings and you would assume the Los Angeles Lakers are the ones coming into Monday’s showdown with Washington on a four-game winning streak. But, you would be wrong: it’s the Wizards who have reeled off four consecutive victories (three as the underdog) as they prepare to face a host Lakers team whose offence has sputtered without its second- and third-leading scorers on the season.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lakers come in as 7.0-point home favourites to win on the NBA odds despite their recent struggles – and that has actually resulted in a decent amount of money on the underdog, with just 60 per cent of Sports Interaction respondents siding with Los Angeles. The Lakers have covered just twice in their previous eight games and have failed to reach the 100-point mark in their past two games. The Wizards, on the other hand, are a red-hot 4-1 against the spread in their past five.

The total of 227 is an intriguing one, with the Wizards having seen their share of high-scoring games and the Lakers owning one of the heaviest Under records in the NBA at 12-19 O/U to date. As you might expect, there is no real consensus on the betting side, with 51 per cent of Sports Interaction participants siding with the Under. It’s worth noting, however, that the Wizards have converted the Under in seven of their past 10 games.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards won’t soon be mistaken for the 1990’s versions of the Miami Heat, but their defence has improved over the past week. They held the Boston Celtics to 91 points in a double-digit Valentine’s Day victory, and limited the Portland Trail Blazers to 111 points in their previous game. And how’s this for a weird stat: Washington is 5-4 straight up, against the Western Conference, making them one of only two East teams with a winning record vs. the West.

Los Angeles Lakers

It’s one thing for the Lakers to be down a superstar in Anthony Davis – but losing their starting point guard has made the offence a major area of concern. Dennis Schroder is out indefinitely due to COVID-19 protocols, joining Davis (Achilles) on the sidelines – and the results haven’t been pretty for the defending champions. They had just 21 assists against 16 turnovers in a 109-98 loss to Brooklyn, then had 25 assists vs. 14 turnovers in a 96-94 setback to the Heat.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Wizards vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season

Wizards Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 32.75
Assists	Russell Westbrook 9.7
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 9.7
FG%	Thomas Bryant 64.8
Steals	Bradley Beal 1.36
Blocks	Alex Len 1.19

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.61
Assists	LeBron James 7.97
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 8.39
FG%	Devontae Cacok 100
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.35
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.78

• Regular Season

Lakers Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 32.75
Assists	Russell Westbrook 9.7
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 9.7
FG%	Thomas Bryant 64.8
Steals	Bradley Beal 1.36
Blocks	Alex Len 1.19

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.61
Assists	LeBron James 7.97
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 8.39
FG%	Devontae Cacok 100
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.35
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.78

Injuries

Washington

Davis Bertans (PF)

Ques Thurs Knee - 25 / 02 / 21

Garrison Mathews (SG)

Prob Mon Quadricep - 15 / 02 / 21

Anthony Gill (PF)

Ques Sat Stomach - 14 / 02 / 21

Ish Smith (PG)

Mid April Quadricep - 13 / 02 / 21

Bradley Beal (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 11 / 02 / 21

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Mon Rest - 08 / 02 / 21

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Wed Rest - 03 / 02 / 21

Raul Neto (PG)

Ques Sun Groin - 30 / 01 / 21

Thomas Bryant (C)

out for season Achilles - 27 / 01 / 21

Raul Neto (PG)

Ques Wed Groin - 27 / 01 / 21

L.A. Lakers

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Fri Back - 26 / 02 / 21

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 26 / 02 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 24 / 02 / 21

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 24 / 02 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Mon Back - 22 / 02 / 21

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Mon Ankle - 22 / 02 / 21

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Prob Fri Illness - 19 / 02 / 21

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 18 / 02 / 21

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Tues Hand - 16 / 02 / 21

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 16 / 02 / 21

Injuries

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Davis Bertans (PF)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 25 / 02 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Bertans is dealing with right knee soreness, and it is unknown if he will be active Thursday versus the Nuggets.
Garrison Mathews (SG)	Prob Mon	Quadricep - 15 / 02 / 21	6-1	4-3	+ -
Mathews is battling a right quad contusion, but it is projected that he will face the Rockets on Monday.
Anthony Gill (PF)	Ques Sat	Stomach - 14 / 02 / 21	6-2	4-4	+ -
Gill has missed the previous three games due to a stomach virus, and it is unknown if he will take the court Saturday versus the Trail Blazers.
Ish Smith (PG)	Mid April	Quadricep - 13 / 02 / 21	6-2	4-4	+ -
Smith is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a strained right quad.
Bradley Beal (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 11 / 02 / 21	6-3	5-4	+ -
Beal will not be active for Friday's contest versus the Knicks as he will receive a day of rest.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Mon	Rest - 08 / 02 / 21	7-4	5-6	+ -
Westbrook will not be available for Monday's contest versus the Bulls as he will be given a day of rest.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Wed	Rest - 03 / 02 / 21	9-6	7-8	+ -
Westbrook will be out of the lineup Wednesday against the Heat for a rest day.
Raul Neto (PG)	Ques Sun	Groin - 30 / 01 / 21	9-7	7-9	+ -
Neto has missed the previous four games with a left groin strain, and it is unclear if he will face the Hornets on Sunday.
Thomas Bryant (C)	out for season	Achilles - 27 / 01 / 21	9-10	8-11	+ -
Bryant suffered a left torn ACL, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
Raul Neto (PG)	Ques Wed	Groin - 27 / 01 / 21	9-10	8-11	+ -
Neto is battling some left groin tightness, making it unknown if he will lace up against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Fri	Back - 26 / 02 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Kuzma is bothered by a back injury, but it is anticipated that he will take the court versus Portland on Friday.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 26 / 02 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Morris is tending to an ankle injury, but he is projected to play Friday versus Portland.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 24 / 02 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Kuzma is projected to face the Jazz on Wednesday despite a back injury.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 24 / 02 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Morris is nursing an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Wednesday's battle with the Jazz.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Mon	Back - 22 / 02 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Kuzma is projected to face the Wizards on Monday despite a back injury.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 22 / 02 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Morris is managing an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Monday's battle with the Wizards.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Prob Fri	Illness - 19 / 02 / 21	1-4	1-4	+ -
Schroder is sidelined while going through the league's health and safety protocols, but he is projected to return Friday versus the Trail Blazers.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 18 / 02 / 21	1-4	1-4	+ -
James has been playing through a left ankle sprain, and he is expected to continue to be in the lineup against the Nets on Thursday.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Tues	Hand - 16 / 02 / 21	1-5	2-4	+ -
Caruso is dealing with right hand soreness, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Tuesday's battle with the Timberwolves.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 16 / 02 / 21	1-5	2-4	+ -
James is nursing a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to take on the Timberwolves on Tuesday.