Warriors vs Lakers Player Props, Picks & Predictions for Opening Night – Is LeBron Playing

• Missing LeBron James (sciatica), the LA Lakers host the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night
• The Warriors will be without starting two-guard Moses Moody and backup De’Anthony Melton
• Check out my Warriors vs Lakers picks, predictions, and player props to target, plus the latest odds

The Los Angeles Lakers (50-32, 31-10 home, 45-35-2 ATS) will have to make do without LeBron James (24.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.2 APG last season), who’s out with sciatica, when they host the Golden State Warriors (48-34, 24-17 away, 41-38-3 ATS) at crypto.com Arena on opening night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 pm PT/10:05 pm ET.

The Warriors will be missing two important bodies – Moses Moodey (9.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.3 APG) and De’Anthony Melton (10.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG) – but they’re still slight road favorites in Tuesday’s NBA odds, listed as 2.5-point chalk. (Updated odds in the final section, below.)

The table below sets out the full slate of Lakers vs Warriors player props. Under the table, find my favorites Warriors vs Lakers picks for opening night.

Jump to: Player Props || Picks || Updated Odds

GS Warriors vs LA Lakers Player Props

With LeBron out, Luka Doncic (28.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.5 APG last season) has the highest total in the NBA player-point props at 30.5. Steph Curry (24.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.0 APG) has the highest point total on the Golden State side at 26.5.

In their first games with their new teams, LA’s Marcus Smart (9.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.2 APG) has a point total of just 7.5, while Golden State’s Al Horford (9.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.1 APG) is down at 6.5. New Lakers center DeAndre Ayton (14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.6 APG) has the highest total in the rebounding props at 10.5 O/U.

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Lakers vs Warriors Picks & Predictions

• Doncic over 31.5 points (+102) at BetMGM

Doncic has made a habit of starting fast in his career. In four of the last six season-opening games, Doncic has scored at least 32 points. On Tuesday night, he’s going to have to shoulder an immense offensive burden with LeBron sidelined. The Lakers brought in some new faces in the offseason – Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton, specifically – but it’s not like either of them are high-volume shooters/scorers. Ayton averaged just over 14 PPG on a bad Portland team that lacked scoring options, and Smart is an aning three-and-D wing.

• Lakers moneyline (+128) at FanDuel

The Lakers were one of the best home teams in the league last season, going 31-10 at crypto.com Arena, and they’ve gone at least five games over .500 at home each of the last three seasons. Doncic will be the best player on the floor and it’s not certain what Steph Curry is going to look like in his age 37/38 season. The addition of 39-year-old Al Horford doesn’t really move the needle, and 36-year-old Jimmy Butler is already dealing with an ankle injury. He’s expected to play, but his 16.5 point O/U is a good indication that oddsmakers don’t expect full-speed Jimmy Buckets.

Getting the Lakers at +128 to defend their home court on opening night is solid value, even with LeBron out of the lineup.

Updated Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

The best Warriors moneyline currently is -145 at Caesars, while the Lakers are as long as +128 at FanDuel. The spread is 2.5 across the board with only minor fluctuations in price from book to book; Golden State bettors won’t find better than -110 at Caesars. Bet365 has the best ATS price on the Lakers (+2.5 at -105).

The over/under still shows a one-point range. Over bettors should take 225.5 (-115) at BetMGM. Under bettors should take 226.5 (-112) at DraftKings.

Odds commentary as of 4:55 pm ET. The lines in the table will update automatically with the best available price if the odds move before tip-off.