NBA: Lakers vs Golden State Warriors Betting Tips

Injury riddled Los Angeles Lakers will seek to stay afloat in the Playoff race as they host RED HOT Golden State Warriors who have now got even better with Boogie back tonight!

Los Angeles Lakers

It has been a rough month of January for the Lakers who will likely have to go without LeBron James for the 14^th straight game. Lakers so far are 5-8 in LeBron’s absence however we recently saw some very positive signs as they beat OKC on the Road and only lost to Houston in OT after they made some ridiculous shots. Lakers problem hasn’t been playing against elite teams, but more so against lowly teams like the Cavs and Knicks who they lost. Expect LA to live up to the challenge tonight and leave it all against the defending champions, but the lack of talent will probably cost them and with Lonzo and Rondo out and LeBron likely out, it’d be hard to expect them to defeat 5 all-stars without their 3 best playmakers. Kuzma and Ingram will be the KEY for LA. Kuzma is coming off back to back 30 point games.

Injury News:

Lonzo Ball – OUT

Rajon Rondo – OUT

LeBron James – Doubtful

Golden State Warriors

Warriors are probably playing their best basketball of the season right now. Warriors have won 7 straight games beating teams on average by 18 points and scoring around 130 points (They’ve won 10 of their last 11 on the Road) and with DeMarcus Cousins back who posted 14/6/3 in Debut this team pretty much looks invincible right now. Only thing that can really stop the Warriors tonight is the scheduling of the game because they’ve spent quite a few days in LA now since playing the Clippers on Friday and well you can definitely expect some rustiness. However, the Warriors did lose to the Lakers earlier this season by 26 points so more likely than not they WILL be motivated for this game looking to get revenge. With the way Warriors are playing we will probably see them prove to be too much for the Lakers. Warriors are at near full health with Damian Jones being the only one out.

Injury News:

Damian Jones – OUT

Betting Stats

Totals

Lakers are dead last in covering total point overs at Home this season at a measley 21.74% (5-1-17). The percentage hardly better ever since LeBron been hurt either as they’re just 28.6% at covering total point overs at Home in games Bron has missed this season (2-5). The total tonight is 232.5 and the closest LA has been to this this season before was against the Pelicans when the total was exact 232.5 and it ended with an under as LA won 112-104. They also had a 232 total against the Kings which turned out to be an Over as LA won 121-114 in a game that LeBron didn’t play. Lakers are 2-5 at O/U when the total given is in 230s this season at Home.

Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors are 3^rd best at covering total point overs on the Road this season at 63.6% (14-8). Warriors have especially been covering overs recently as they’ve covered 4 of last 5 due to their recent explosive play on offense. The closest that GS have been to tonight’s 232.5 total was against the Hawks when the total was 234.5 and it ended being an over as GS won 128-111. Warriors are 3-2 in O/U when the total is in 230s-240s.

Handicaps

Lakers are also in bottom 5 when it comes to covering Handicaps at Staples Center this season at 39.13% (9-14). In LeBron’s absence Lakers have covered 42.9% of their Handicaps at Home (3-4). Tonight the Lakers are season high 12 point underdogs which is the first time they’ve been double digit underdogs in a game at home this season. Prior to that the largest underdog handicap that was given to LA was 5.5 pts against the Clippers and Thunder which they both didn’t cover losing 107-118 and 100-107. As underdogs at Home as a whole Lakers are 0-4 at covering Handicaps.

Warriors haven’t been too particularly good at covering Handicaps on the road just as 45.4% (10-12) however most of the negativity came when Steph Curry was out when they went 1-4 with Handicaps on the road. Warriors covered 7 of 12 Handicaps on the road since Steph returned last month. Tonight’s handicap is also Golden State’s biggest as their previous high was 11.5 against the Knicks which they covered winning 128-100. Warriors are 5-1 at covering Handicaps on the roads as double digit favourites.

Recent H2H in Los Angeles

Lakers and Warriors have had some great games In LA particularly last season. It’s one of the places where GS have struggled in Steve Kerr era despite having a 5-3 record over the Lakers in Staples during that span. Prior to last season it was actually 3-3 but two OVERTIME wins last season was the first time that GS swept the Lakers at Staples in Steve Kerr era and despite sweeping, the Warriors were well and truly tested as Lakers took them to OT both times.

The most recent meeting was a 116-114 Warriors win towards of the end of December 2017 at Staples. That game had over 218.5 pts covered and Lakers covered a +5.5 pre-game handicap.

During the last meeting at Staples, LIVE betting lines had Warriors as high as 9.5 point favourites, the Lakers never got to be the favourites during that match up despite it ending up being very close.

The point total was a low as 203.5 and the highest it got to was 223.5 LIVE during that last match up between these teams in LA.

 

Match Start – 22^nd January 2019 – 3:30am UK Time