Warriors vs. Lakers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Feb. 28, 2021

by Jonathan Willis
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to take some time off during All-Star Game Weekend. Los Angeles has lost four of its last five games as this team has really lost its way without Anthony Davis in the lineup.

The Lakers are currently third in the Western Conference standings, and they are hoping to not drop behind the red-hot Phoenix Suns before the break. They will take on the Suns this Tuesday, but they will try to get past the surging Golden State Warriors prior to that showdown.

Warriors vs. Lakers Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Staples Center
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Warriors vs. Lakers

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Lakers -4
Money-Line: L.A. -175, Golden State +155
Total: 223.5

The Warriors head to Los Angeles on Sunday night seeking their fourth consecutive victory. (AP)

Warriors vs. Lakers Current Form-Last Game

Golden State is on a roll. The Warriors have won three in a row and seven of their last ten to climb to 19-15. They haven’t played a Western Conference opponent since beating the Spurs 114-91 in San Antonio back on February 9 though.

Three-point shooting has been the key to Golden State’s recent run. The Warriors rank fifth in three-point attempts, and that has helped them score at least 110 points in nine of their last ten games. Stephen Curry is leading the way as always, but others are getting in on the action too.

The Warriors took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter and cruised to a 130-121 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Charlotte knocked down 41.5 percent of its threes, but Golden State shot the lights out from the floor. Golden State made over 60 percent of its shots and went 11 of 24 from beyond the arc.

Curry and Kelly Oubre Jr. combined for 56 points as both players posted plus/minuses over +20. That shooting was enough to overcome some iffy ball handling as the Warriors had 23 turnovers.

Los Angeles has not looked good without Davis in the lineup. Davis is one of the game’s best power forwards, but he has only played two games over the past three weeks and is set to miss another few weeks due to injuries to his calf and Achilles tendon. That has led to the Lakers dropping four of their last five as this offense is having a hard time finding its footing.

Davis was injured in the Lakers’ 122-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets two weeks ago. Los Angeles is averaging just 103.4 PPG over its last seven games without him, and that average is buoyed by the Lakers win over lowly Minnesota and their overtime loss to Washington last Monday night.

The Lakers were able to put a stop to their losing streak on Friday night. Dennis Schroder returned to the lineup after a 10-day absence due to COVID protocols, and he provided a spark in LA’s 102-93 win over Portland. This team really struggled from downtown though, going just 7-27 from distance.

Warriors vs. Lakers Head-to-Head

Jan. 18, 2021 - Warriors 115 at Lakers 113, Golden State +8.5, Over 226
Feb. 27, 2020 - Lakers 116 at Warriors 86, L.A. -10.5, Under 220
Feb. 8, 2020 - Lakers 125 at Warriors 120, Golden State +14, Over 224.5

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Golden State Warriors

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 19-15 SU, 18-16 ATS, 15-19 OU
Road: 7-9 SU, 7-9 ATS, 7-9 OU

Curry is looking like his usual self. He hasn’t shown any signs of being significantly hampered by last year’s injury, averaging 29.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 6.3 APG this season for the Warriors.

Curry is shooting the lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down 41.5 percent of his threes, and he is on pace to surpass Ray Allen as the league leader in career three-pointers sometime next season.

It’s been an interesting season for Draymond Green. Green is no longer productive as a shooter, averaging just 5.7 PPG, and it appears that he has lost confidence in his touch. He is making just 38.4 percent of his field goals and 22.8 percent of his threes, yet he continues to play 30.0 MPG as he does everything else for Golden State. Green is averaging 6.1 RPG and 8.7 APG, and he is one of the most feared defenders in the NBA.

Andrew Wiggins is hoping to come into his own with the Warriors. Wiggins never lived up to the billing in Minnesota, but he has found a role as a secondary option to Curry in Golden State.

He is the second-leading scorer on the team (17.5 PPG), and he is a decent defender too. Wiggins is not the most efficient scorer though, leading to a 13.62 PER.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 23-11 SU, 15-19 ATS, 12-22 OU
Home: 10-7 SU, 6-11 ATS, 9-8 OU

LeBron James has been trying to do it all without Davis. James is playing big minutes with an eye on winning his fifth NBA MVP. He leads the Lakers in most categories with 25.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 7.9 APG, and he is making over 50 percent of his shots.

We haven’t seen James get to the line as often as he did in previous seasons though. Additionally, his three-point shooting has left a lot to be desired this month as James is making just 25 percent of his treys in February.

The return of Schroder will take some of the pressure off James. Los Angeles hasn’t had a lot of production out of its backcourt aside from Schroder, and he was certainly missed during the losing streak.

Schroder is third on the team in scoring with 14.5 PPG. He is the only guard on the team averaging double digits in scoring each night, but he hasn’t been too efficient. Schroder is making just 44.1 percent of his field goals and 31.5 percent of his threes.

Montrezl Harrell had a solid performance in the only previous meeting between these teams this season. Harrell went 7-8 from the floor and pulled down eight rebounds while adding two blocks in 28 minutes in the Lakers’ 115-113 loss to the Warriors on January 18. He has finished with at least 10 point in six straight games, finishing with 16 points or more in five of the last six for the Lakers.

Key Injuries

Golden State Warriors

SG Klay Thompson: Achilles - Out

Los Angeles Lakers

PF Anthony Davis: Achilles - Out