The Los Angeles Lakers (16-5) take on the Boston Celtics (13-9) Friday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Lakers vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Four takeaways from the first 20 games of the season as the Lakers begin a three-game road trip Thursday in Toronto.

The Los Angeles Lakers (15-5) will look to recover from their loss to the Phoenix Suns when they travel north to face the Toronto Raptors (15-7) on Thursday, but they will be without their best player. Luka Doncic has been ruled out due to personal reasons, leaving Los Angeles without the league’s leading scorer.

Doncic kept his foot on the gas on Monday as the Lakers sought their eighth consecutive win. The 6-foot-8 guard wasted no time making his impact on the game, turning in another scorching hot first-quarter performance.

The reason behind Luka Dončić’s sudden absence from the Los Angeles Lakers’ road trip has finally been revealed.

The Toronto Raptors will be without three players, including two key rotational pieces, in their high-voltage regular-season showdown against the LA Lakers on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing a trade for elite two-way wing defender Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans.