Saturday’s five-game NBA series is headlined in part by the first game on ABC between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. It is an important competition for a playoff position in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is currently in sixth place with a 34-24 record, while Golden State is eighth at 31-28.
Let’s get into my Lakers vs. Warriors.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors odds
Money line: Lakers -156 / Warriors +132
Spread: Lakers -3.5 (-104) / Warriors +3.5 (-116)
Total: Over 226.5 (-106) / Under 226.5 (-114)
The best bet for Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors: Lakers -3.5 (-104)
Golden State hasn’t won back-to-back games since hitting four in a row between January 13th and 19th. They will have to end that drought if they want to get the job done on Saturday, because they are coming off a win against Memphis on Wednesday. It’s no real surprise that the Warriors haven’t been able to enjoy any kind of extended success. After all, point guard Stephen Curry missed all of February with a knee injury and Jimmy Butler is out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL. Curry will be tested again this weekend, so it is clear that he will not play in this tournament. In addition, Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and De’Anthony Melton (knee) are questionable.
As for the Lakers, they have plenty of health. Both LeBron James Luka and Doncic are ready to go. Only Rui Hachimura is on the injury report (who could be questioned on Saturday due to illness). Still, LA isn’t playing very well – they’ve lost three straight games. However, its two most recent setbacks have come in the finals (a 110-109 loss to Orlando and a 113-110 loss at Phoenix).
These two teams last met on February 7, when Los Angeles won 105-99. That game may have been in LA, but the Lakers were without Doncic. Now that Doncic is back and Curry is sitting on the shelf, another comfortable win for the Lakers should be in order.
