Lakers Face Struggling Wizards in NBA Cross-Conference Showdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Washington Wizards in a cross-conference NBA matchup Thursday night at Capital One Arena. The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET, with the Lakers entering as 8.5-point favorites and the over/under set at 223.5 points.

The Wizards, currently 6-40, hold the worst record in the league and are riding a 14-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Lakers sit fifth in the Western Conference with a 26-19 record. Los Angeles has dominated recent matchups, winning the last five head-to-head games, though Washington has covered the spread in three of the last four meetings.

Both teams face key absences. The Lakers will be without Anthony Davis (foot) and Christian Wood (knee), while the Wizards’ Alex Sarr (ankle) is sidelined. Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has shown promise this season, averaging 11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.

Washington’s struggles have been compounded by their inability to cover the spread, failing to do so in five of their last six games. However, the Wizards have historically performed well at home against the Lakers, covering the spread in five of their last six matchups in Washington, D.C.

The Lakers are coming off a 118-104 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Despite the loss, LeBron James delivered a strong performance with 31 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Los Angeles previously defeated Washington 111-88 on Jan. 21, with James recording a triple-double.

SportsLine‘s projection model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has been highly accurate, returning over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated picks over the past six seasons. The model is leaning toward the Under on the total points and indicates that one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations.

As the Wizards continue their pursuit of Duke star Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft, their young core, including Sarr and other players aged 20 or under, offers a glimmer of hope for the franchise’s future. Meanwhile, the Lakers aim to maintain their playoff positioning despite injuries to key players.