The Lakers have won eight of their last 10 games, are 9-3 on the road and Luka Dončić is expected to play after missing the previous games against the Raptors and Celtics to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Dončić is heavily in the MVP discussion averaging an NBA-best 35.3 points a game and a fourth-best 8.9 assists per game. Spearheaded by Dončić, the Lakers are a top-10 offense and rank second in field goal percentage. Philadelphia has won three in a row, but those wins were against the Bucks, who are missing Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Warriors at home by one point as a 4-point favorite and versus the 3-19 Wizards. Joel Embiid could make only his ninth appearance of the season here. He has been limited by a sore knee and has not looked like the superstar he was when he was fully healthy. Philadelphia's depth remains down with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford both still sidelined. Take the Lakers.
