Upcoming Match-ups

Lakers vs Warriors Odds, Lineups, Injury Report and Picks

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NBA Basketball

Updated Oct 18, 2021 · 7:00 PM PDT

Russell Westbrook
October 14, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the basketball against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Lakers are three-point home favorites over the Warriors in the season opener Tuesday night
  • LAL have just three players remaining from their 2019-20 championship team
  • A look at the odds and matchups can be found below with a prediction

Two teams that made early exits from the postseason last season but have championship aspirations in 2021-22 open their seasons when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at 10:00 p.m. ET Tuesday at the Staples Center.

The Lakers (42-30/21-15 home) were ousted in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Phoenix Suns to end their 2020-21 season. The Warriors (39-33/14-22 road) were upset by the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament.

The Lakers are favored on opening night in a game that will be televised by TNT.

Warriors vs Lakers Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Golden State Warriors +128 +3 (-106) Over 228.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Lakers -152 -3 (-114) Under 228.5 (-110)

Odds as of October 18th at FanDuel

Injury Report

Wayne Ellington, in line to become the Lakers’ starting shooting guard, will miss the game with an ankle injury. Forward Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb) and Trevor Ariza (ankle) are recovering from surgeries performed during training camp.

Warriors center James Wiseman is rehabbing following offseason knee surgery and forward Draymond Green may have his minutes limited after missing part of the preseason for personal reasons.

Warriors vs Lakers Projected Lineups

Warriors
VS
Lakers
Stephen Curry PG Russell Westbrook
Jordan Poole SG Malik Monk
Andrew Wiggins SF Kent Bazemore
Draymond Green PF LeBron James
Kevon Looney C Anthony Davis

Steph Still the Man

Now 33 years old, Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry shows no signs of slowing down. He is a big reason why Golden State feels it is a title contender.

Curry established a career high last season when he averaged 32 points a game to lead the NBA. He also dished out 5.8 assists, pulled down 5.5 rebounds and made 1.2 steals a game.

The Warriors ensured the two-time MVP will remain in San Francisco in August when they signed him to a four-year, $215 million contract extension. That will take him through the 2025-26 season when he will be 38 years old.

Forward Andrew Wiggins had a solid first full season with the Warriors in 2020-21 with an 18.6 scoring average.

The Warriors believe guard Jordan Poole has star potential. He upped his scoring average to 12.0 last season from 8.8 as a rookie in 2019-20.

Poole scored at least 20 points off the bench in the games last season. He set a career high with a 38-point effort against the New Orleans Pelicans on May 14 in a starting role.

The Warriors were fifth in the league in three-point field goal attempts with 38.7 a game last season. Look for Golden State to put up just as many or more three balls this season as it hoisted 80 shots from beyond the arc in its preseason opener.

The Warriors shot 37.6% on three last season, which ranked ninth.

Reimagined Lakers

The Lakers did a nearly complete makeover of their roster in the offseason following last spring’s disappointing finish. Just three players remain from the team that won the NBA title in 2019-20 in the bubble – LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo.

Though the title was actually two seasons ago, it has been actually barely over a year since the Lakers closed out the Miami Heat in The Finals.

And even Rondo is one of a host of veterans signed in free agency over the summer after he split last season between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Among the others either acquired in trades or added as free agents include Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, Ariza, Ellington and Kent Bazemore.

The Lakers have nine players 32 or older and eight who have at least 12 years of experience in the NBA.

How quickly they jell as one unit remains to be seen. However, what is not in doubt is James and Davis, whose 2020-21 season were hampered by injuries, will join forces with Westbrook as the Lakers’ Big Three.

James averaged 25 points, 7.8 assists and 7.7 rebounds last season while Davis scored 21.8 points and grabbed 7.9 rebounds a game. Playing for the Washington Wizards, Westbrook averaged a triple-double with averages of 22.2 points, a league-leading 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds.

Who Will Be 1-0?

Ellington will miss the opener and it might take a while for the Lakers to truly click. However, Los Angeles has such great talent that it should be able to overcome most obstacles,  including the Warriors on opening night.

The Pick: Lakers -3 (-114)

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