Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors Betting Pick & Prediction 12/25/24
At 8:00 ET, the Lakers (+134) will travel to San Francisco to take on the Warriors (-159) in a Western Pacific Division matchup. Golden State is currently favored by 3.5 points and the over/under line is set at 225.
ABC will broadcast this game from the Chase Center. The Lakers are 16-13 and 7th in the Western Conference, while the Warriors are 15-13 and 8th in the West.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +3.5
This game will be played at Chase Center at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, December 25th.
WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 123-122 in favor of the Warriors.
- Our projections have Stephen Curry finishing with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
- From the field, we have the Warriors finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.9% and knocking down 15 threes.
Can the Lakers Grab a Win on the Road?
The Lakers fell to 16-13 on the season after a 117-114 loss to the Pistons on Monday. Despite being favored by 6.5 points at home, L.A. couldn’t cover the spread. The game’s total of 231 points went over the 222-point line.
Detroit’s 14-0 run early in the game put the Lakers in a tough spot, but L.A. battled back to take a 92-93 deficit into the 4th quarter. However, the Pistons outscored them 24-22 in the final period to seal the win.
LeBron James notched a triple-double with 28 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds, shooting 62.5% from the field in the Lakers’ 117-114 loss to the Pistons. Anthony Davis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Max Christie added 17 points, hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate.
The Lakers shot 54.1% from the field and made 14 threes, connecting at 46.7% from deep. LeBron scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, while Christie added 5 in the final period.
The Lakers’ defense struggled on Monday, giving up 117 points to the Pistons, who shot 51% from the field. Los Angeles allowed 34 points in the 1st quarter and 31 in the 3rd but tightened up in the 4th, holding Detroit to 24 points.
From beyond the arc, the Lakers limited the Pistons to 11 threes on 36% shooting. Detroit also went 12/12 from the free-throw line. Los Angeles finished with 32 defensive rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals.
Will the Warriors Make it Happen at Home?
The Warriors dropped to 15-13 on the season after a 111-105 home loss to the Pacers on Monday. Golden State, favored by six points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 216, falling short of the 231.5 O/U line.
Golden State went on an 11-0 run to take a 90-89 lead after trailing 89-79, but they couldn’t hold on, as the Pacers edged them 22-20 in the 4th quarter.
In the Warriors’ 111-105 loss to the Pacers, Jonathan Kuminga led the way with 26 points, including 10 in the 4th quarter. He shot 56.2% from the field and hit 2 threes at a 66.7% rate. Andrew Wiggins added 16 points, with 7 coming in the 3rd quarter.
Golden State struggled from beyond the arc, making just 12 threes at a 31.6% clip, and shot 43.3% overall. Trayce Jackson-Davis contributed 13 points, matching Buddy Hield’s 8 points in the opening quarter.
Defensively, the Warriors struggled early, giving up 33 points in the 1st quarter, but they tightened up as the game went on, allowing just 22 points in the 4th. Overall, they gave up 111 points on 48% shooting in the loss to the Pacers.
Golden State did a great job defending the three, holding Indiana to 11 made threes on 31% shooting. They also sent the Pacers to the line just 11 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Warriors grabbed 33 defensive rebounds, allowing 8 offensive boards, and added 7 steals and 7 blocks.