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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Preview, Picks, & Best Bets (2/28/26)

Check out Lakers vs. Warriors best bets, along with our game preview and NBA online sportsbook promos.
Lakers Vs. Warriors Prediction
Braxton Reynolds Avatar
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The Los Angeles Lakers (34-24) travel to face the Golden State Warriors (31-28) at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. Stephen Curry has not played since Jan. 30 due to a knee injury, and he remains sidelined. Kristaps Porzingis is also questionable to play, while Draymond Green holds a probable designation. 

Keep reading for Lakers vs. Warriors best bets, and click any odds below to place a bet. For more sportsbook promos, we highly recommend checking out the best sports betting sites. Also check out our daily NBA betting trends for data, odds and insights!

Lakers vs. Warriors Odds

Lakers vs. Warriors Best Bets & Picks

Best bets in this matchup include taking the over on Moses Moody’s points and Luka Dončić to score the first basket of the game. 

Moses Moody Over 14.5 Points (-104 FanDuel)

Los Angeles’ defense surrenders the ninth-most corner attempts per game largely because it struggles to contain drivers at the point of attack. Moses Moody ranks 12th across the NBA in corner attempts per game, and he’s knocking them down at a blistering 45.3% clip according to NBA.com. Moody is also one of the Warriors’ most frequent transition scorers, and the Lakers’ defense is far from elite in this department. 

Overall, Moody has averaged 16.3 points per game since Curry’s injury, and it’s a great matchup for him. 

Luka Dončić First Basket (+500 FanDuel)

Deandre Ayton is favored to win the tipoff, so Los Angeles likely secures the first possession. Luka Dončić has taken the Lakers’ first shot in 22 of his 46 starts (47.8%), and Golden State’s defense does not feature enough size to truly bother Dončić. 

As a side note, first basket includes free throws. 

Lakers vs. Warriors Preview & Breakdown

Los Angeles ranks 21st in net rating this month and is in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Team morale has never been lower this season. 

There’s no sense of urgency, pride, or cohesion. Luka Dončić’s defensive effort is appalling. Deandre Ayton publicly stated his dissatisfaction with how the Lakers’ offense utilizes him. Rumors about LeBron James’ retirement are also circulating. It feels like a rudderless team that is simply going through the motions. 

To be fair to Dončić, the roster is the exact opposite of what he needs to thrive. It’s devoid of quality bigs who protect the rim and operate as lob threats. There are no elite point-of-attack defenders, and Los Angeles’ three-point shooting is suspect at best. Perhaps the front office can build a complementary team around him this offseason with cap space and unlocked first-round picks, but this season may be a lost cause. It would take nuclear performances from Dončić, James, and Austin Reaves for the Lakers to win numerous playoff series in the brutal Western Conference. 

Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL vaporized Golden State’s already slim chances of reaching the NBA Finals because Stephen Curry does not have a co-star to help him carry the scoring and playmaking loads. The minutes when Curry rests against playoff defenses will be especially brutal. 

On the bright side, the Warriors’ defense is still decent without Butler and could reach another level if Kristaps Porzingis manages to play on a semi-consistent basis. His length around the basket fills a massive weakness. Unfortunately, Porzingis is probably a part-time player at this point in his career. 

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About the Author
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Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.

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