The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will meet on the opening night of the NBA season tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on NBC.
The Warriors are 2.5-point favorites over the Lakers on the spread (Warriors -2.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. Golden State is a -140 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Warriors vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, October 21.
Warriors vs Lakers Picks, Prediction
- Warriors vs Lakers pick: Austin Reaves Over 5.5 Assists (+110)
My Lakers vs Warriors best bet is on Austin Reaves over 5.5 assists, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Warriors vs Lakers Odds for Tuesday, October 21
| Warriors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 226.5 -110o / -110u | -140 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 226.5 -110o / -110u | +120 |
- Warriors vs Lakers spread: Warriors -2.5
- Warriors vs Lakers over/under: 227.5 total points
- Warriors vs Lakers moneyline: Warriors -140, Lakers +120
- Warriors vs Lakers best bet: Austin Reaves Over 5.5 Assists (+110)
Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Preview
The NBA is back on NBC, and in the nightcap, the Warriors will take on the Lakers.
Over the last several years, these two Western Conference powers have produced many great games.
Many of them have featured Stephen Curry and LeBron James, but tonight James is out and will be for the next several weeks with sciatica.
However, the Lakers will have Luka Doncic available as he begins his first full season with the team.
Last year, Doncic had a “down” season compared to his previous two as he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists and failed to make an All-NBA team for the first time since his rookie season.
However, Doncic enters this year motivated and slimmed down to 230 pounds.
In the Lakers' preseason finale, Doncic scored 31 points with five rebounds and nine assists in 32 minutes.
The Lakers used the game as a dress rehearsal, as he was joined in the starting lineup by Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, and DeAndre Ayton.
Vincent enters the season on a hot streak; shooting 15-for-27 from three in the preseason and made two three-pointers in all four preseason.
Tonight, he likely draws the assignment of chasing around Curry.
In 47 career games against the Lakers, Curry has averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists.
He particularly torched them last season, as he scored 30 points in three of the four meetings while averaging 31.3 points.
With four championships on his resume, Curry likely enters this season with added motivation after going down in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against Minnesota.
The Timberwolves would go on to win the final four games of the series.
It will be interesting to see how the Warriors navigate this season with their veteran core.
The group got even older adding 39-year-old Al Horford to the group as the Warriors will likely start four players that are 36 or older.
Head coach Steve Kerr has stated he would like to keep Horford limited to 20 minutes per game to start the season.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler sat out Friday's preseason finale but he is listed probable for tonight's game.
Warriors vs Lakers Best Bets, Analysis
Doncic has averaged 29.2 points per game over his last five games against the Warriors. He scored 25 or more in three of those games.
Doncic will also be the Lakers' primary facilitator. However, without James, they will need Reaves to step up in that area.
Last season, Reaves had at least six assists in four of five games that he and Doncic played together without James.
A few of them may go to Vincent spotting up from deep, as I'll be backing him for two triples tonight.
I will close out this parlay with Curry to score 25 points given his track record against the Lakers.
Warriors vs Lakers Betting Prediction
- Austin Reaves Over 5.5 Assists (+110)
Warriors vs Lakers Parlay Picks
- Stephen Curry 25+ Points
- Luka Doncic 25+ Points
- Gabe Vincent 2+ Made Three-Pointers
- Austin Reaves Over 5.5 Assists
Parlay Odds: +460
Lakers vs Warriors Betting Trends
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