Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 09/04/2024, 03:45  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 09/04/2024 at 14:00 in NBA Prediction

The Lakers will be at home to welcome the Warriors in the final regular season matchup between the two. Both teams are bumper to bumper in the West standings with the Lakers in ninth leading the 10th-placed Warriors. The Lakers saw a four-match winning run snapped last time out as they fell at home to the Timberwolves. Their 34th loss of the season saw them drop right back to ninth after they had moved up one spot. The Lakers are likely to match up with the Warriors in the play-in tournament. They will therefore seek to send a psychological message with a win here. Darvin Ham’s men, who are 1.5 games from the automatic playoff places, defeated Golden State on the road in January. Anthony Davis and LeBron James are questionable for this game while Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood remain sidelined. LA have averaged 119.3 points over their last three games.

The Warriors got back to winning ways last time out thanks to a 118-110 victory over the reeling Utah Jazz. Steve Kerr’s men had lost on the road to the Mavericks before Utah’s visit and saw a six-match winning run snapped. Both LA and Golden State have secured at least a play-in spot but are still angling for automatic playoff qualification. The Warriors however are a long way off than the Lakers. Defeat here will most likely end their top-six hopes. Golden State trail LA by 1.5 games and are another similar distance away from clawing out of the play-in places. The last two matchups between these two teams have been won by the Warriors. They won 128-121 the last time they were in LA, which was three weeks ago. Dario Saric is the only injury concern for the Warriors who have averaged 119 points over their last three games.