The four games in the NBA Play-in tournament take place this week. For some teams it will be their last chance to reach the playoffs this season. However, both the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers will have two bites at the cherry. Regardless, a win on Wednesday evening would set up a playoff date with the Phoenix Suns.
Lakers vs Warriors Schedule
- When: Wednesday, May 19th
- Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
- How To Watch: NBA League Pass
Lakers vs Warriors Odds
| Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5) | -110 |
| Golden State Warriors (+6.5) | -110 |
| Over 222.5 | -110 |
| Under 222.5 | -110 |
Lakers vs Warriors Preview
Lakers Looking To Avoid Embarrassment
It looked to be incredibly unlikely just a couple of months ago that the Lakers would drop into the play-in tournament. However, that is the position that the defending champions now find themselves in. The Lakers must win at least one of the games this week to book their passage through to the playoffs. A victory over the Warriors would be their preferred route, but they will also have the back-up option of a game against either the Memphis Grizzlies or San Antonio Spurs if they are beaten on Wednesday.
However, that second route could lead to a game against the top-seeded Utah Jazz. The Lakers couldn’t come into this game in better form, as they have won their last five. They have also won six of their previous ten games. They closed out the regular season with a 110-98 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. LeBron James scored 25 points in the win, while Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anthony Davis also scored more than ten points each in the win.
Warriors Have Experience
The Golden State Warriors missed out on the playoffs last season after a disappointing term. Injuries certainly played a huge impact on their chances last term, but they could be one of the teams with an outside chance this season, as Steph Curry has been in phenomenal form throughout the campaign. Curry could be one of the outstanding picks to win the MVP award this season, as he has averaged 32 points per game, and averages 48.2% from the field.
From beyond the arc, he has averaged 42.1%, while he has also contributed an average of 5.8 assists per game. The Warriors ended the season in great fashion, as they won all of their final six games in the NBA. They brought the curtain down on their regular season with a 113-101 win over the Grizzlies. Curry was in excellent form once again, as he scored 46 points.
Recent Meetings
The Lakers have dominated games against the Warriors over recent seasons. They have won five of the last six games between the sides. The only Warriors win during this period came in January of this year.
Lakers vs Warriors Pick
The stakes are pretty huge for both these sides on Wednesday. Both have experience of play-off basketball, which is effectively what this game is. However, it would seem unwise to bet against the reigning NBA champions to get over the line.
