The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics face off in a battle between long-time rivals at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Boston is favored by 2.5 points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the Over-Under is set at 213 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page). 

Before making any Lakers vs. Celtics picks, you NEED to check out the NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $900 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It's also on a stunning 113-75 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows the Lakers have plenty of strengths, including above-average shooting on offense. Los Angeles ranks in the top 10 in overall field goal shooting (45.9 percent) and two-point shooting (52.5 percent), with above-average accuracy on three-point attempts (34.7 percent). The Lakers are also above the league's average baseline in free throw attempts (20.1 per game), and Los Angeles is generating 23.9 assists per game. On defense, turnover creation is a large portion of the formula for Los Angeles, with the Lakers ranking No. 3 in the league in forcing 16.8 turnovers per game.

The model also knows the Celtics are playing quite well on defense. Boston is holding opponents to 43.8 percent shooting and 33.0 percent from three-point range, and the Celtics are No. 4 in the NBA in allowing 21.3 assists per game. The Celtics are above-average in steals (8.1 per game), blocks (6.0 per game) and turnovers created (15.3 per game). Boston is also a top-five team in both second-chance points allowed and fast break points allowed, with a notable offensive strength in the ability to both generate free throws (20.1 attempts per game) and convert them (79.4 percent) to boost efficiency.

Now, it has set its sights on Lakers vs. Celtics. We can tell you the model is leaning under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NBA picks.

Who wins Lakers vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Lakers vs. Celtics spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model on a roll on NBA picks!