California clubs are on a collision course this evening in San Francisco. The Lakers (34-24, 6th in West) remain a contender in the loaded Western Conference. Now, Los Angeles will hope to improve its standing with a road victory. That might not come easy against the Warriors (31-28, 8th in West). Golden State, even without Steph Curry, has enough fire power to keep this one close.
The Lakers are 3.5-point favorites (-115) over the Warriors on DraftKings Sportsbook. Los Angeles is favored at -175 on the moneyline. The total for this contest is set at 229.5 points. Here’s my preview, prediction, and pick for Saturday’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors game.
Lakers vs. Warriors prediction, preview
Los Angeles, for all its flaws, has enough talent to strike fear into almost any team. It starts with Luka Doncic, one of the most dominant offensive players on Earth. This season, the superstar is averaging 32.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists to go with 47/36/77 shooting splits. He’s joined by none other than LeBron James. Even at 41 years old, The King is among the NBA’s best all-around threats. LBJ has accounted for 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. To round things out, Austin Reaves (24.6 PPG, 5.5 AST) has emerged as a high-end third option for the Purple and Gold.
Given all of that star power, the Lakers should rank near the top of the Western Conference. Unfortunately, injuries have kept their dominant trio off the floor on numerous occasions this season. To boot, it’s not as if any of those three are even above-average defenders. In fact, nobody in LA seems all too interested in stopping anyone. The team has posted a 117.7 defensive rating, seventh-worst in the NBA. In addition, depth has been a problem all year. Los Angeles’ bench has produced just 28.9 points per game, seventh-lowest in basketball.
It’s a different story for the Warriors, who possess a fairly spread-out rotation. The issue for this group is health. Jimmy Butler (ACL) is out for the season, while Curry remains sidelined with a knee injury. As a result, it’s anyone’s guess as to who the go-to option is for Golden State. Some combination of De’Anthony Melton (12.7 PPG), Brandin Podziemski (12.3 PPG) and Moses Moody (12.0 PPG) are the team’s best scorers right now. Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is currently listed as questionable.
One major difference between these squads is that the Dubs prioritize defense. That’s especially true with Draymond Green on the court. The four-time All-Star is probable to suit up tonight following a one-game absence. As a unit, Golden State is holding its opponents to just 113.8 points per game, 11th-lowest in the NBA. The Warriors rank seventh in the association when it comes to limiting three-pointers made, as well. They come into this matchup having won two of their last three games, including a victory over the Nuggets last Sunday.
Lakers vs. Warriors pick, best bet
Even at less than 100%, it’d be foolish to count out the Warriors. Still, it’s clear that the Lakers enter this contest as the more talented team. When these two last met on February 7th, Los Angeles eked out a 105-99 win. The Lakers, as the healthier roster, should have the advantage once again on Saturday. Expect the visitors to pull away late in this one.
