LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 9.5 Assists (-135)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, all eyes will naturally be on LeBron James. However, it's worth noting that the veteran star has been trending toward a lower assist total lately. Over his last five games, LeBron has averaged just 8.6 assists, and at home, that number dips to 7.6. Against the Thunder specifically, he's been even less of a playmaker, averaging only 5.6 assists in their last five encounters. With LeBron's recent home games yielding just 6.6 assists against Oklahoma, it's clear that he's not pushing the envelope like we might expect. Additionally, in his last 20 outings, he's hit the under on this prop a staggering 16 times. Given these trends, taking the under on 9.5 assists seems like a savvy move, especially as he may focus more on scoring against a Thunder team that's struggled defensively.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) Over 29.5 Points (-132)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in prime form as the Thunder gear up to face the Lakers, and targeting him for over 29.5 points feels like a smart move. In his last five games, he's been lighting it up, averaging 30 points overall and even more impressive on the road, where he's dropped 31 per game. When it comes to facing the Lakers, he's turned it up a notch, averaging 32.4 points in their recent encounters.With a solid away hit rate of 75% over his last 12 games, he's proven he can thrive on the road. And let's not overlook the context: he's expected to score around 35.1 points based on current data. With the Lakers' defense struggling to contain dynamic scorers, it's clear Gilgeous-Alexander is poised for a standout performance. Betting the over here feels like a savvy choice.

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 32.5 Points + Assists (-120)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As we look ahead to the matchup between the Lakers and the Thunder, it's hard not to focus on LeBron James and his potential to fall short of the 32.5 points and assists mark. Over his last five games, he's averaged just 18.4 points and 8.6 assists, translating to a mere 27 points when combined. At home, those numbers dip even further, with LeBron netting about 16.8 points and 7.6 assists.Now, considering the Thunder, he's averaged 23.2 points and 6.6 assists at home against them recently, which still leaves him shy of our target. With a staggering 90% hit rate on this under in his last 20 games and going 9 for 10 at home, it's clear that LeBron is more about facilitating the offense than dominating the score sheet. This trend suggests a calculated bet on the under for his combined points and assists.

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