Lakers vs. Warriors: Prediction, Odds, Schedule and TV Channels

Winners of four of the last six NBA titles will collide when the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors meet in a Western Conference Semifinals.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series takes place in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Steph Curry and the defending champion Warriors have won three of the past six and four of the past eight NBA titles.

LeBron James led the Lakers to the 2020 title, the franchise’s 17th championship, matching the NBA titles he won with other teams (Miami 2012, 2013; Cleveland 2016).

The Lakers have a 6-1 advantage over the Warriors in the playoffs, most recently when Los Angeles advanced in five games in the 1991 Western Conference Semifinals.

Here’s a look at the series from a betting perspective and an expert’s pick, with odds at FOX Bet:

Warriors at Lakers, 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC (Series tie 1-1)

Point distribution: Lakers -3.5 (Lakers favored the win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise the Warriors cover)
money line: Lakers -162 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $16.17 total); Warrior +115 underdogs to victory (Bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total score over/under: Both teams scored 227.5 points together

SERIES WINNER

Warrior -128 (Wager $10 to win $17.81 in total)
Lakers +105 (Wager $10 to win $20.50 in total)

[RELATED: Parlay bettor turns $6 into nearly $79,000]

Select Game 1 via FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre:

The Warriors want to shoot 3s. I wonder if the Warriors will have to play a lot against Kevon Looney and Draymond Green because if they go small with Draymond centered on Anthony Davis, Andrew Wiggins could fight with LeBron and the Lakers will dominate the glass.

As much as I like Austin Reaves, it’s one thing to hunt around [Memphis’] Desmond Bane; it’s another to try to follow Stephen Curry. I’m not sure Jarred Vanderbilt would be a good fit for Curry and other than maybe Dennis Schroeder, there’s no one on the bench who would be up to the task.

The Lakers will have two additional rest days and the Warriors are coming off a grueling seven-game streak. A disappointment with the Warriors wouldn’t surprise me.

But it’s difficult to resist against the Warriors in the series. And with just one day between each game in the series – albeit domestic travel – one has to wonder how LeBron will fare when he has to shoulder a heavy offensive load.

If you’re looking for a buy-low player to target in the prop market, Jordan Poole has to be the guy. He was terrible against the kings, shooting 33% from upfield and just 25% from deep. He’ll be targeted by LeBron when he’s on the ground, but Poole is offensively electric and should be able to pull through with D’Angelo Russell.

CHOOSE: Jordan Poole Scored over 12.5 points in Game 1 (-105 on FOX Bet, staked $10 to win $19.52 overall) (win, 21 points)

Here’s the schedule and results for the series (all times ET):

Game 1: Lakers 117, Warriors 112
Game 2: Warriors 127, Lakers 100
Game 3: Warriors at Lakers, Saturday, 8:30 p.m., ABC
Game 4: Warriors at Lakers, Monday 10 p.m. TNT
Game 5: Lakers vs. Warriors, Wednesday 10 p.m. TNT
Game 6: Warriors at Lakers, TBD May 12, ESPN *
Game 7: Lakers at Warriors, TBD May 14, TV TBD*

* = possibly

Regular season results

October 18: Warriors 123, Lakers 109
February 11: Lakers 109, Warriors 103
February 23: Lakers 124, Warriors 111
March 5: Lakers 113, Warriors 105

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