Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, March 7 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Lakers about a 91% chance, and the Nets would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Lakers 91%, with a projected score of Brooklyn Nets 107, Los Angeles Lakers 122. The rating gap is 299 points in favor of the Lakers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Lakers on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 11 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Nets are 0-3 this season and 0-5 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -18. The Lakers are 3-0 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +2.2.
The Nets were beaten 136-101 on the road by TOR not long ago.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Nets score 111 a game and allow 123.7. The Lakers score 128 and allow 115. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 113 for the Nets and 125.9 for the Lakers, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
Injuries to watch
Out: Tyler Bilodeau (BKN), expected back Oct 27, 2026, Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, and Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Mikel Brown Jr. (BKN). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Lakers lead 3-1, with the Lakers outscoring the Nets by an average of 7.8 points per game. The last meeting was BKN 99, LAL 116.