Lakers vs. Warriors Game 1: Odds, Lines, Picks & Best Bets
- Who: Los Angeles Lakers (0-0) at Golden State Warriors (0-0)
- When: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
- Time: 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Chase Center (San Francisco, California)
Betting Odds Summary
- Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-110), Warriors -4.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Lakers +160, Warriors -190
- Total: Over/Under 228 (-110/-110)
The excitement amongst NBA fans continues to build as we close in on yet another chapter of the epic saga between LeBron James and Steph Curry. While this matchup won’t occur in the NBA Finals like many of their previous battles, the series could still have Finals implications considering both teams are scalding hot and could make a deep playoff run.
If you want to add even more fun to this entertaining rivalry, look at our best basketball bets below.
Spread, Moneyline, Total: Lakers vs. Warriors
On Tuesday night, Golden State is a 4.5-point spread home favorite for Game 1 against Los Angeles. The Lakers have no one listed on their injury report, which is a terrific sign for a surging team.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are in a similar boat with just three players set to miss the series opener: Ryan Rollins, Andre Iguodala and Patrick Baldwin Jr. Those three players are not in Golden State’s regular rotation, so their absences should not change the outcome of this game in any way.
Through the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers rank third in net rating behind only the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets – two teams that had much more ideal first-round matchups than Los Angeles.
LA had a more demanding task than Philly and Denver, as it drew the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis had two All-Stars, including this year’s Defensive Player of the Year winner (Jaren Jackson Jr.), last year’s Most Improved Player winner (Ja Morant) and an efficient three-level scorer in Desmond Bane. Despite the Grizzlies’ talent, the Lakers still boasted an incredible 104.0 defensive rating against them during their six-game series.
However, this Warriors team could be a different beast. Golden State is a remarkable 35-9 at home this season and just took down the Sacramento Kings, who led the NBA in scoring this year.
Los Angeles should not be nearly as challenging as Sacramento was. The Lakers have shot just 45% from the field and 28% from deep over their last five games. The Warriors held the Kings far below their shooting averages and should do the same to Los Angeles in this series.
Due to the Golden State’s dominance at home, its more talented backcourt, Kevon Looney’s rebounding prowess, and overall advantageous defensive matchups, the Warriors’ moneyline (-190) and spread (-4.5) could certainly be worth backing in this spot.
The point total rests at 228 as of Monday evening, although it could move in either direction leading up to tip-off. The Under is 8-5 in Golden State and Sacramento’s 13 total playoff games, as both teams have stepped up on the defensive end this postseason.
Player Prop Bets: Lakers vs. Warriors
- Lakers SF LeBron James Under 26.5 Points (-115)
It has not been smooth sailing for LeBron’s offensive game in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, as he has shot just 19.5% from behind the arc and averaged just 22.2 points per game. Furthermore, he’s gone under this prop bet total in five of six postseason games so far.
The Grizzlies rotated a few defenders on James, including Xavier Tillman Sr. and Dillon Brooks – two solid defenders but not necessarily world-beaters on that end of the floor. Despite a strong regular season on the defensive end, Brooks was a huge minus defensively in that series.
Golden State won’t have that same issue, though. James will be defended by a combination of Andrew Wiggins – a pesky defender who boasts impressive athleticism laterally and vertically – and Draymond Green, a former DPOY winner. Wiggins’ defensive rating of 109.8 and averages of 1.9 blocks / 1.0 steals per game in the first round prove how tough of a defender he has become for this Warriors team.
This will not be as favorable of a matchup for James, so it will likely again be other players who step up to score the ball for Los Angeles in Game 1.
- Warriors C Kevon Looney Over 12.5 Rebounds (-115)
To say that Looney outplayed Domantas Sabonis in the first round would be a massive understatement. Looney dominated the glass, averaging 18 rebounds from Games 3-7. Even more impressive is that Sabonis led the NBA in rebounding this season, proving that a motivated Looney is among the league’s best rebounders.
Now, Looney has a matchup against Anthony Davis, another uber-talented big man who can dominate the glass against weaker opponents. However, Davis does not usually thrive as much in a physical environment, and this series will undoubtedly qualify. Davis is also three inches shorter than Sabonis, making this a more even matchup for Looney physically.
Same-Game Parlay: Lakers vs. Warriors
For this heavyweight matchup between the Lakers and the defending NBA champs, take a look below at our three-leg same-game parlay:
- Golden State Warriors -3.5 (-130)
- Kevon Looney To Record 18+ Rebounds (+400)
- LeBron James Under 27.5 Points (-130)
Golden State’s significant backcourt advantage should prove too much for Los Angeles to handle in Game 1. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are much better than D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves on both ends of the floor, plus experience and talent should win out, especially at home.
Further, Davis’ impact on the glass should be mitigated by Looney, a terrific “glue guy” for the Warriors who averaged an outrageous 15.1 rebounds per game during the first round. Eighteen boards may seem like a lot, but Looney topped 20 in three of his last five games.
Lastly, James is coming off a poor series offensively and will have his hands full with Wiggins guarding him in this series. It’s also worth noting that LBJ is only averaging 21.3 points per away game during these playoffs so far.
This long-shot parlay has +1000 odds, so a winning $100 wager would return $1,000 in profits along with your original stake.
