- The Golden State Warriors are 3-point favorites on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, who will be without LeBron James.
- The two teams split 1-1 in the two games played at crypto.com Arena last season.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will face off for the nightcap of the NBA’s opening night slate at 10 PM EST, coming into the game as two of the most highly anticipated teams in the league this season.
Warriors vs Lakers Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors | -3.0 (-105) | -145 | O 226.0 (-110) |
| Lakers | +3.0 (-115) | +125 | U 226.0 (-110) |
Legal sports betting sites give the Warriors a slight edge on the road at -145 odds to win outright. Here are some of the biggest factors to consider when betting on tonight’s game.
Home / Road Splits
The Lakers were amongst the best teams in the NBA at home last season, going 31-10 at crypto.com Arena during the regular season before losing two of three home games in the first round against the Timberwolves.
Despite their impressive 32-12 record, which was the fourth best overall home record in the league, they were only able to manage a 4.0 point average margin of victory, good for just 12th, meaning they weren’t as dominant at home as one might think.
The Warriors were one of the better teams on the road last season, going 27-21 including the postseason, the seventh best road record in the NBA.
Contrary to the Lakers, their average margin of victory outperformed their record, with a 3.1 point average margin of victory on the road, the fourth highest mark.
Big Additions
Neither team made drastic changes to their roster this offseason, but they both added veteran big men who are expected to contribute in a major way.
The Warriors added Al Horford following his departure from the Celtics, coming off a season where he averaged 9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks per game.
Despite what may seem like underwhelming numbers, Horford is a perfect scheme fit for the Warriors as a stretch big who can still be a difference maker defensively.
His line is set at 6.5 points and 5.0 total rebounds for his Golden State debut.
On the other side, the Lakers signed former #1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton to a 2-year deal for just $16 million with a player option after the first season, essentially a “prove it” deal for the 27 year old big man.
Ayton has averaged a double-double in every season of his career, though it has not necessarily translated to wins, making the playoffs just three times in his seven year career, granted he has not been on the most talented teams.
Ayton has -130 odds to record a double-double, which he did in exactly half of his 40 games played last season.
LeBron Ruled Out
LeBron James has been the pinnacle of longevity in the NBA, but entering his 40-year old campaign, it seems as though time has begun to catch up to him, as James has been ruled out for the season opener and the foreseeable future with sciatica.
While Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are able to carry the majority of the ball-handling duties while James is out, there is no question that the Lakers are worse off without him on the court, as reflected by the Lakers entering as a 3-point underdog.
With the Warriors fully healthy outside of Moses Moody, bettors should feel confident in picking Golden State to cover the 3-point spread (-105) on the road at legal NBA betting sites.
