The Los Angeles Lakers visit the defending champion Golden State Warriors in both teams’ NBA season opener Tuesday. Tip-off from Chase Center is set for 10 p.m. ET (TNT).
The defending champion Warriors come into this season looking to win their 5th title in 9 years, all under coach Steve Kerr. Finals MVP and future hall of fame PG Steph Curry will be leading the team again this season.
After a lot of controversy in the last few weeks regarding a viral fight between young PG Jordan Poole and seasoned veteran and leader PF Draymond Green, the Warriors are looking to put that all behind them and show why they are the defending champions.
The Lakers are coming off a very disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs and fired coach Frank Vogel, replacing him with Darvin Ham. Ham will look to make this team with the trio of SF LeBron James, PG Russell Westbrook, and PF Anthony Davis work. Many are losing hope that this trio can work, in part due to Westbrook’s struggles.
Lakers at Warriors odds
- Moneyline (ML): Lakers +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Warriors -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +6.5 (-103) | Warriors -6.5 (-117)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Lakers at Warriors key injuries
Lakers
- PF Anthony Davis (back) probable
- SF LeBron James (foot) probable
- PG Dennis Schroder (UCL) out
- PG Russell Westbrook (hamstring) probable
Warriors
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Lakers at Warriors picks and predictions
Prediction
Warriors 109, Lakers 100
Moneyline
AVOID.
The Warriors are almost fully healthy and should win this game, especially if LeBron and Davis do not play. However, the moneyline here is too risky for me to advise you to bet on it either way.
Against the spread
BET WARRIORS -6.5 (-117).
The Warriors had one of the better offenses in the NBA last year, and I don’t see that changing because they were able to mostly keep their championship team together. Look for Curry and Poole to have big games and expect SG Klay Thompson to look even better than last year after having the off-season to recover.
Expect SF Andrew Wiggins, C Kevon Looney, and Green all to contribute on both the offensive and defensive ends as well. LeBron and Davis are a formidable duo, but without many strong pieces surrounding them, I do not see the Lakers being able to make this one a close game.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 225.5 (-112).
The Under here is your best bet for me. I don’t see this Lakers team being able to put up an absurd amount of points on this tough Warriors team. The home crowd should have a profound effect on this game, especially with it being the Warriors’ first game back at home since winning the Championship last year.
Los Angeles does not have a great defense to hold the Golden State offense, but they do have some capable defenders in PG Patrick Beverly and SG Austin Reaves. The Lakers are hoping that Davis can have an MVP-caliber season to lighten the load that LeBron has to carry as he continues to age, but I see the Warriors shutting that hope down early.