We have a nightcap on ESPN as the Lakers head out to the Bay to take on the Warriors. Golden State is coming off of a huge double-digit win against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. They hope to bring some added momentum into this battle against the championship favorites. With the line set at just over a bucket, let’s get ready for some fireworks to round out our Monday night. Two of the most exciting teams in the league will certainly put on a show at the Chase Center. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Lakers-Warriors prediction and pick.
Here’s how the sportsbooks are lining up this contest:
NBA Odds: Lakers-Warriors Odds
Los Angeles lakers -2.5 (-115)
Golden State Warriors +2.5 (-105)
Over 222.5 Points (-110)
Under 222.5 Points (-110)
Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
As mentioned in the intro, the Lakers are the odds on favorites to win the 2021 NBA Championship. Coming off of a title run that was full of adversity, the Lakers showed the league that they are the best team and are still led by the best player in the world. Lebron James is a generational talent that has a direct impact on his team’s success every night. Coming off of a double-double in the win on Saturday, he is still feeling himself. Will the Warriors have an answer for him on the defensive end?
The Lakers have been cashing in for bettors recently, going 4-1 ATS in their past 5 games, despite the absence of Anthony Davis. In Davis’ absence, Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has stepped up, averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds over his past ten games. Kuzma dropped 24 in the Lakers’ win against Indiana on Saturday, scoring 15 in the fourth-quarter comeback. Kuzma and Lebron have kept this team afloat in Davis’ absence and will have to continue to do so tonight against a Golden State team that is much better on its home court.
The last time these two matched up was on February 28th, where LA defeated Golden State 117-91. Over the past three games between these two teams, the Lakers are 2-1 ATS with an average margin of victory of 18 points. In those games, LA has shot 49% from the field and has won the rebounding battle by an average of 17 boards per game. Frank Vogel and his squad will look to take care of their business on the road before returning home for a three-game homestand.
Why The Warriors Could Cover The Spread
The Golden State Warriors are 20-19 this year. If they were allowed to play all of their games at the Chase Center, they might have the same record as their opponents tonight. It’s interesting to look at this team’s home vs. away splits. Even without fans, the Warriors protect their home court. They are currently 12-7 ATS at home and 5-1 SU in their last 6 games in San Francisco.
Coming off of a rough 4-game losing streak, the Warriors had a resounding home victory against the Utah Jazz yesterday. With Draymond’s first triple-double in what feels like a century, the Warriors are hoping that their heart and soul can turn a corner and become a key contributor again. Lord knows that Steph Curry needs him to take on at least some of the load.
Don’t get it twisted, Golden State has plenty of talent on the roster. They just haven’t been able to get consistent success from vital pieces like Kelly Oubre and former #1 pick Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins did drop 28 points in yesterday’s win. LA will be without AD, Marc Gasol, and Alex Caruso tonight. If Wiggins, Oubre, Draymond, and Wiseman can show up like they did yesterday, I’d actually make the argument that Golden State will be the more talented team on the floor. It all lies on the shoulders of #30, though.
Stephen Curry is back to his ways as the fourth leading scorer in the league this season. He’s currently averaging 29.3 points per game and has single handedly kept his team in playoff contention thus far. He had a great bounce back performance yesterday, dropping 6 three-pointers and 32 points in the win against Utah. Despite Golden State’s struggles in back to backs, they are playing at home and should have enough energy to keep up with a depleted Laker squad on Monday night.
Final Lakers-Warriors Prediction & Pick
This game will not disappoint. It will come down to the fourth quarter and in the end, I see the Lakers coming away with a W. Their success on both ends on the floor, their will to win, and the Warriors’ struggles in back to backs lead me to believe that LA will be victorious tonight. This low spread makes sense as it will most likely be a back-and-forth type of game, but Lebron’s bunch has the defensive edge, especially in the frontcourt. Look for the Lakers to get hot in the fourth quarter and pull away with a comfortable cover.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR Lakers-Warriors: 125, 117 (LAL -2.5 (-115)
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