Lakers: Week 8 predictions

The Lakers finished a perfect Week 7, beating the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. The team has climbed to 8-16, with five of their wins on the road.

They’ll play three games through Week 8, visiting the Indiana Pacers (7-17) and Kings (11-13), while hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder (11-13).

To date, the Lakers are one game behind the cumulative prediction of 9-15.

Monday at Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have lost eight in a row, dealing with a plethora of injuries. They’ve also played a difficult recent schedule with playoff opponents like the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers may be vulnerable coming into Indiana, on the second night of a back-to-back, after two emotional games -- an overtime win in San Antonio and a victory in Minnesota with Kobe Bryant passing Michael Jordan on the all-time career scoring list.

Just when things are looking up for the Lakers, the Pacers would be a natural setback. If the Lakers have truly turned the corner, they’ll prove this prediction wrong.

Prediction: Pacers

Friday vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder were a mess earlier in the season, with All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sidelined with injuries.

Now they’re healthy and the Thunder are once again a problem for most of the league.

Even with the Lakers at home, with Tuesday through Thursday to prepare -- and Oklahoma City playing on Thursday night in Golden State -- it’s difficult to put the Lakers down with a win.

Prediction: Thunder

Sunday at Sacramento Kings

The Kings fired their head coach Mike Malone on Sunday night, giving Tyrone Corbin the job in the interim.

Sacramento started well, but has fallen on difficult times with center DeMarcus Cousins out with viral meningitis.

This won’t be an easy game for the Lakers, but given the turmoil in Sacramento, it’s a winnable one.

Prediction: Lakers

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.