Christmas is upon us and the NBA has put out an exciting slate of matchups for the fans. Several title contenders like Heat vs Sixers, Suns vs Mavs, and Nuggets vs Warriors all face each other later tonight. However, the Lakers matchup against the Celtics is the pick of the bunch, in what promises to be a highly competitive and captivating game.

The two teams have had varied starts to the season, but in a derby game, the form book goes out of the window. However, both teams face the uncertainty of missing several key players due to injuries. So, how will they line up?

Lakers vs Celtics: Predicted Lineups and Injuries

The game between the Lakers and the Celtics is scheduled to tip off by 5:00 PM, Eastern Time at the Crypto.com Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers will make their 25th straight Christmas Day game appearance. Following their NBA Cup win, the Lakers have been underwhelmed in their recent performances, which has led to them dropping out of the guaranteed playoff spot. Whereas, the Celtics have been the most in-form team in the league. They currently occupy the 1st spot in the Eastern Conference standings, with 21 wins and 6 losses.

However, the Celtics have a few injury concerns on their hands. The Celtics have listed Kristaps Porziņģis (ankle), Svi Mykhailiuk (left heel contusion) and Lamar Stevens (non-COVID illness) as questionable for tonight’s game. On the other hand, the Lakers have even bigger injury concerns to deal with. They have listed LeBron James (ankle), Anthony Davis (ankle sprain/bone bruise) and Cam Reddish (groin soreness) as questionable for the clash against the Celtics.

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The Celtics could start with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta. Despite the Lakers having listed LeBron and AD as questionable, the two superstars would likely play against Boston. They could begin the game with D’Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Cam Reddish, and Anthony Davis.

Lakers vs Celtics: Predictions

Despite the Lakers’ poor recent form, the bookmakers in Vegas have predicted a competitive match. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Celtics are slight favorites to win the game by 2 points. The over/under for the game is set at 234.5. The money line odds for the game indicate that Boston is favored at -134, while Los Angeles is the underdog at +113.

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Even though the Celtics are the favorites according to bookmakers, fans should not underestimate the Lakers. A team featuring players of the caliber of LeBron James and Anthony Davis should never be overlooked. However, the Celtics have hardly put a foot wrong this season and it’s very hard to look past a Celtics victory. Who will win this match? Let us know in the comments below!

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