Don't like any of the NBA playoff spreads today and really no playable moneylines not in a parlay so we'll take a half-unit shot here. If you have followed me over the years, I rarely bet a game total Over. Not really sure why. Guess I believe it's easier to miss shots/miss pitches, etc., than it is to succeed against fellow professionals. And obviously any major injuries to stars in-game. The Lakers clearly will struggle to score without Luka and AR, but this is quite low in the modern NBA even for the slower postseason. Could be a rout and if so, that's when teams forget about defense. Our model has this clearing Over by 11 points.

Amen Thompson is an excellent rebounder. He grabbed 7.8 boards per game during the regular season, which included him recording at least eight rebounds in 11 of his last 16 games. He averaged 37 minutes a game this season, which is a number that is likely to only go up in the playoffs. He played at least 41 minutes the last two times he faced the Lakers and came away with 12 and 11 rebounds. Look for him to be active on the glass again.