The Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) will host the Golden State Warriors (44-31) in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Lakers are 1.5-point favorites over the Warriors on the spread, with the over/under set at 229.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -120 favorite to win outright, while Golden State is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Warriors vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, April 3.
Warriors vs Lakers Prediction, Picks
My Lakers vs. Warriors best bet is on Stephen Curry Over 25.5 Points, with the best odds available at Fanatics. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
My Pick: Steph Curry Over 25.5 Points
Warriors vs Lakers Odds, Spread, Total
| Warriors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 229.5 -110o / -110u | +100 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 229.5 -110o / -110u | -120 |
- Warriors vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -1.5
- Warriors vs. Lakers over/under: 229.5 total points
- Warriors vs. Lakers moneyline: Lakers -120, Warriors +100
- Warriors vs. Lakers best bet: Steph Curry Over 25.5 Points
Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Preview
Seeding for the Western Conference playoffs race is coming right down to the wire, and the Lakers and Warriors are right in the thick of it. With 29 losses on the year, the Lakers are three up in the loss column on the Timberwolves, Clippers, and Grizzlies, who are in a three-way tie for the sixth seed. The Lakers moved into a tie for the third seed after the Nuggets lost consecutive home games to the Timberwolves and Spurs.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have surged into the fifth seed after their last three games. With Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green in the lineup, they are 18-2 this season. Their last game prior to Butler’s arrival was against the Lakers, a 120-112 defeat.
Curry had 37 points in that game on 13-for-35 from the field. However, he is coming off one of the best games of his legendary career against Memphis. On Tuesday night, Curry had 52 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals, becoming just the third player ever to reach that stat line. In the process, he also moved past LeBron James and into a tie with Damian Lillard for sixth place all-time in 50-point games.
James and Curry helped the United States win its seventh gold medal in the last eight Summer Olympic Games in Paris last summer. However, their teams have played several thrilling games over the past few years. With Butler and Luka Doncic added to the mix, tonight’s game might be a classic as well.
Curry has scored 26 points in 13 of his last 19 games against the Lakers, including two of three games this season with 38 and 37 points. This will be the first meeting with Butler involved, but Butler has not limited Curry's scoring. In fact, you could say that he has ignited him.
Since Butler was acquired, Curry is averaging 27.8 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 41.8% from three. I would expect Curry to be primarily guarded by Dorian Finney-Smith tonight. Curry may have had to work for it, but Finney-Smith did not deter him from scoring 30 points in the last meeting, and Curry should hit at least 26 tonight.
Curry has scored 30 points in 10 of the last 13 games in which he has cleared his points line against the Lakers. Another candidate to score 30 points tonight is Doncic. He has done so in 11 of his 16 games against the Warriors and six of his last 10 games overall.
Meanwhile, Butler has scored 16 points in six of his last eight games overall and in each of his last five games against the Lakers. Butler has excelled at drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line of late. Against a smaller Lakers frontline, he should find success inside once again.
Warriors vs Lakers Betting Prediction
- Steph Curry Over 25.5 Points (-125)
Warriors vs Lakers Same Game Parlay
- Stephen Curry 30+ Points
- Luka Doncic 30+ Points
- Jimmy Butler 16+ Points
Parlay Payout: +585
