The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are two Western Conference teams heading in opposite directions when they clash in the Staples Center Sunday night.
The Lakers, who are 3.5-point home NBA betting favorites, snapped a four-game slide with a win over Portland Friday. The Warriors, on the other hand, bring a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s showdown with the defending champs.
Check out our NBA free picks and predictions for Warriors vs. Lakers on February 28.
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers betting preview
Injuries
Warriors: None to report.
Lakers: Anthony Davis C (Out)
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a straight-up win. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Lakers.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonWith game time approaching in Tinseltown, the Lakers are 3-point favorites at FanDuel, down a point from the Saturday afternoon opener of -4. It's two-way point-spread action with a lean toward Los Angeles, which is getting 54 percent of bets and 57 percent of cash. The total initially ticked up from 224.5 to 225.5, then made its way down to 219.5 late this afternoon. Forty minutes before tipoff, the total is at 220, with ticket count and money running 4/1 on the Over, contrary to the number sitting 4.5 points lower than the opener.
Check out the full line movement for this game
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Lakers were able to stop the bleeding with a 102-93 home win over the Trail Blazers Friday, thanks in large part to a dismal second half from Portland, which scored only 36 points in the final 24 minutes. Los Angeles is still trying to figure out life without center Anthony Davis, who is sidelined until mid-March with a calf injury.
Los Angeles' offense has been stuck in the mud the past five games, averaging just 43.5 percent shooting for only 101.4 points per game. The Lakers have gone with a bigger lineup, adding Marc Gasol and Markieff Morris to the starting five while using guys like Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell as spark plugs off the bench.
Golden State is a stark contrast to the Lakers’ plodding playbook right now. The Warriors ranked second in pace in the NBA and have won five of their last seven contests (5-2 ATS) on the back of that high-octane attack. The Warriors are averaging just under 118 points on 48.5 percent shooting during this stretch, with four of those outings coming on the road.
With the Lakers in a letdown spot after finally quieting doubters with a slump-stopping win and just trying to survive until the All-Star break, there’s an opportunity for an energetic Golden State squad to come into L.A. and give the defending champs a fight.
PREDICTION: Golden State +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Warriors’ three-game winning run hasn’t been backed by the same relentless rain of 3-point buckets this franchise is best known for. While Golden State is firing at almost 51 percent from distance in this span, the team is collecting less than 10 triples per contest.
Instead, the Warriors are getting to the rim and dominating with hard-fought points in the paint. In the past three games, Golden State is averaging an NBA-best 60.7 points in the paint and shooting 66.4 percent within five feet of the basket.
Even with Davis out of the lineup, the Lakers are a sound defensive team. Some of that is interior muscle and an ability to tighten up in the second half, and some of this is based on offensive pace. Los Angeles is running a pace rating of 96.39 over the last five contests, staying below the total in all but one of those games.
PREDICTION: Under 222.5 (-110)
Game prop pick
Golden State will want to overwhelm the weary legs of the Lakers with early energy in the opening 24 minutes. LeBron James and Los Angeles are showing the effects of a long 2020 championship run, as well as the short rest between seasons, and complain about being tired more than your grandfather when asked how his day’s going.
The Lakers have allowed opponents to net 58.4 points on almost 49 percent shooting in the opening two quarters of their last five games, then tighten their belts in the second half. Los Angeles is the best second-half defense in the NBA – as evidenced by Friday’s performance – and has given up an average of only 47 points in the close 24 minutes to those same five foes.
PREDICTION: Highest scoring half – first half (-160)
Warriors vs Lakers betting card
- Golden State +3.5 (-110)
- Under 222.5 (-110)
- Highest scoring half – first half (-160)
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