NBA Predictions: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers (14-11) will take on the Boston Celtics (14-10) Thursday night inside the TD Garden and will look to snap a two-game losing streak.

Oddsmakers have established the Lakers as three-point road underdogs and the total has settled in at 177.5.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 28 points in the team's latest defeat, dropping a 95-90 contest to the Philadelphia 76ers as 4.5-point road underdogs.

Bryant managed to pass former teammate Shaquille O'Neal for fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with the effort, as he continues to lead the league in averaging with 29.3 points per game.

Los Angeles has won three of the last four games in this series, including a 92-86 win as two-point underdogs in its last trip to Beantown on Feb. 10, 2011. 

Boston is enjoying its longest winning streak of the season at five games, finishing out a five-game homestand Thursday night.

Bettors will find that the Celtics are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six games as favorites of 4.5 points or less.

Four starters are currently averaging double-figures in scoring, with forward Paul Pierce leading the charge averaging 18.4 points per game.

He was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for action that came to an end on Feb. 5th, averaging 22 points and leading the franchise to four wins.

Gotta lay the points in this one.

Pick: Boston Celtics -3