January 27, 2024; San Francisco, California, United States; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during overtime at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
- The Golden State Warriors take on the LA Lakers on Saturday night
- The Warriors are currently +2.5 underdogs with Steph Curry likely to play
- Read below for Warriors vs Lakers predictions, odds and player props for betting
The Golden State Warriors (34-31) will travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers (36-31) on Saturday, March 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Steph Curry appears to be returning to the Warriors lineup after a four-game absence.
The Lakers started as 3-point home favorites, but the line has since moved to the Lakers -2.5 at most sportsbooks. The plus/minus is set at 233.5 points. NBA Player Accessories Promote Big Nights Out
Let’s move on to our Warriors vs Lakers prediction, as we analyze the odds and determine the best player props to bet on.
Golden State Warriors vs. LA Lakers odds
| Team | Spread | Money line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS Warriors | +2.5 (-115) | +110 | Over 233.5 (-105) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -2.5 (-105) | -130 | Under 233.5 (-115) |
In Warriors vs Lakers odds, Los Angeles is a -130 moneyline favoritewhich gives them an implied probability of victory of 56% in the NBA Odds.
Odds as of March 16, 2024 on ESPN Sportsbook. Claim it ESPNBet promo code bet on Lakers vs Warriors. North Carolina bettors can unlock the ESPN Bet North Carolina Promotion.
This Western Conference showdown features two teams vying for playoff positioning, with the Lakers currently holding the 9th seed and the Warriors right behind them at 10th. See all seedlings in our NBA Playoffs Bracket.
History of the Warriors-Lakers
The Warriors and Lakers have split their two meetings so far this season, with each team winning on their home court. On January 28, the Lakers won 145-144 in an overtime thriller, despite Curry’s 39 points. James had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the victory.
The Warriors got their revenge on February 23, winning 128-110 behind Curry’s 29 points and eight assists. Klay Thompson added 23 points and Draymond Green added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
GS vs LAL Recent Results
| Date | Far from home | Against the spread | OR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/22/2024 | GS128 – LAL110 | GS-6 | U244 |
| 01/27/2024 | GS144 – LAL 145 OT | ALL +1.5 | O 245.5 |
| 05/12/2023 | LAL122 – GS101 | ALL-3.5 | O 218.5 |
| 05/10/2023 | GS121 – LAL106 | GS-7.5 | O 223.5 |
| 05/08/2023 | LAL104 – GS101 | ALL-2.5 | U228 |
Over the last 10 matchups, the Lakers hold a 7-3 advantage against the spread. The over has hit in six of the last 10. At home, the Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last six against Golden State. The Warriors are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games against the Lakers.
Warriors Betting Analysis
The Warriors come into this game having lost three of their last four games, including a 109-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Golden State was without superstar point guard Stephen Curry for the third straight game due to a sprained right ankle.
Curry’s status for Saturday’s game is still uncertain, but he practiced Friday and head coach Steve Kerr said he anticipates Curry will play. His return would provide a huge boost to the Warriors’ offense which has suffered greatly in his absence.
“That’s the plan.”
Steph Curry on his return tomorrow against the Lakers pic.twitter.com/70SJMtvw3R
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 16, 2024
For the season, Curry leads the Warriors with 26.9 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 44.9% from the field, 42.5% from three and 91.5% from the free throw line . His gravity and his shots open up so much to his teammates. Thompson is the team’s second-leading scorer at 17 points per game.
Defensively, the Warriors have actually improved a lot since mid-January. Over their last 23 games, Golden State has a defensive rating of 111.4, the 7th best in the NBA. Green and Kevon Looney’s renewed commitment to this has helped keep them afloat despite Curry’s injury and some offensive inconsistency.
Lakers Betting Analysis
The Lakers come into this game having split their last four games, most recently losing to the Sacramento Kings 120-107 on the road Wednesday night. It was Los Angeles’ fourth loss to the Kings this season. LeBron James stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, but shot just 6-18 from the field.
The bright spot was sophomore guard Austin Reaves, who scored a team-high 28 points on efficient 10-18 shooting. Reaves has been a revelation this season and one of the few constants for a Lakers team that has suffered a myriad of injuries.
First 11 points in 4/4 for Austin Reaves ???? pic.twitter.com/gOnx7TSJYz
– NBA TV (@NBATV) March 14, 2024
When healthy, the Lakers remain an extremely dangerous team, capable of beating anyone. James is having another MVP-caliber season at age 39, averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and eight assists. Anthony Davis has remained mostly healthy and is averaging 24.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. The duo forms one of the most talented star duos in the league.
Defensively, the Lakers have been mixed this year. They rank 22nd in defensive rating (115.1) and 25th in points allowed (117.2), but their staff suggests they are better than those numbers.
Warriors vs Lakers Player Accessories
When it comes to Warriors vs. Lakers player accessory markets, there is no shortage of options. Check out our NBA player accessories to get the best odds on a prop bet applicable to your specific betting region.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Aids | Three pointers made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 26.5 (Ov -123 | Oun -111) | 7.5 (Ov -131 | Oun -104) | 8.5 (Ov -129 | A -106) | 2.5 (Ov +126 | One -174) |
| Stephen Curry | 25.5 (Ov -108 | Oun -127) | 3.5 (Ov -127 | A -108) | 5.5 (Ov +118 | A -163) | 4.5 (Ov -148 | A +108) |
| Anthony Davis | 25.5 (Ov -145 | A +106) | 13.5 (Ov -135 | A -101) | 3.5 (Ov +123 | A -169) | 0.5 (Ov +202 | Un-294) |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 18.5 (Ov -104 | Oun -131) | 5.5 (Ov -139 | A +102) | 2.5 (Ov -108 | A -127) | 0.5 (Ov -125 | A -109) |
| Austin Reaves | 16.5 (Ov -129 | A -106) | 4.5 (Ov -101 | A -135) | 5.5 (Ov +106 | Un -145) | 2.5 (Ov +120 | Un -166) |
| D’Angelo Russell | 16.5 (Ov -129 | A -106) | 3.5 (Ov +100 | One -137) | 5.5 (Ov -131 | Oun -104) | 2.5 (Ov -133 | A -103) |
| Rui Hachimura | 15.5 (Ov -109 | Oun -125) | 4.5 (Ov -111 | Oun -123) | 0.5 (Ov -214 | A +152) | 1.5 (Ov -108 | A -127) |
| Andrew Wiggins | 12.5 (Ov -127 | A -108) | 4.5 (Ov +118 | A -163) | 1.5 (Ov -145 | A +106) | 1.5 (Ov +143 | One -199) |
| Green Draymond | 6.5 (Ov -119 | A -115) | 6.5 (Ov -106 | A -129) | 5.5 (Ov +116 | Un -160) | 0.5 (Ov -104 | A -131) |
NBA player accessories as of March 16 from various high-profile players sports betting apps.
One player prop we are targeting is LeBron James with over 26.5 points. James is scoring 29.5 points per game at age 39, and the crowd isn’t listening after his 18-point performance against the Kings.
Unusually, he went 6-18 on shots, so expect him to bounce back on Saturday. In two games against Golden State this year, LeBron is averaging 29 points.
- GS vs LAL prop picks: LeBron James over 26.5 points
For a safer bet, Bet365 offers James, Davis and Curry to score +20 points with increased odds of +125. The usual price for this result is -140. You can bet on this Bet365 odds increase
here
.
Warriors vs Lakers Prediction
It’s a tough game to call, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Curry’s status. The Warriors are just 1-5 without him this season and their offense can seem rudderless at times when he’s not on the court. However, they beat the Spurs on the road without him on Monday and seem to be finding their feet a little more, especially on defense.
The Lakers have been one of the toughest teams to match all season. Their immense talent is undeniable but injuries and lack of cohesion have led to maddening inconsistency. They’ve beaten the Bucks and lost to the Kings (twice) in the last two weeks alone. Still, they are 12-6 in their last 18 games overall and seem to be trending in the right direction as they improve.
Assuming Curry plays, I’m leaning towards the Warriors +2.5 in this game. Curry’s return should provide an emotional boost and his offense is desperately needed. The Lakers’ defense is vulnerable, especially on the perimeter, so Curry, Thompson and Wiggins could have big nights if they get going.
The Lakers have also been shaky as favorites this year (15-23 ATS), while the Warriors have been solid as road dogs (10-6 ATS). In this matchup between two inconsistent but talented teams, I’ll take the points in what should be a competitive and entertaining affair.
Warriors Picks vs. Lakers:
