Lakers vs. Warriors odds and predictions: Who is the favorite to make it to the Conference Finals?

The Lakers emerged victorious after six games in their initial playoff encounter during the 1967 Western Division Semifinals. Over the years, the Lakers and Warriors have engaged in 22 playoff series, with the former winning 13 and the latter 9.

Most recently, the two teams faced off in the 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament, where the Warriors clinched a 103-100 win against the Lakers. This highly anticipated game featured two of the league’s biggest stars, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, battling it out in a must-win situation.

The NBA playoffs for 2023 are in full swing, with the Lakers and the Warriors set to face off again, this time in the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday for the series’ first game.

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The game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Los Angeles won their series against the Timberwolves with a score of 4-2, while Golden State advanced to the next round after a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Kings.

Lakers vs. Warriors odds

Los Angeles Lakers

Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals will see the Lakers up against the reigning champions, the Warriors. Having enjoyed a long rest period after their victory over the Grizzlies, the Lakers could have an advantage over the Warriors, who had less time off. During the regular season, the Lakers had a 57% success rate when they had more rest than their opponents, and they covered the spread in 69% of their games with a two or three-day break.

Despite their strong performance in the first round, the Lakers know the Warriors will provide a tougher challenge. However, the Lakers won three out of four regular-season matchups against the Warriors, which bodes well for their chances in Game 1.

As the Lakers gear up for their Western Conference semifinals game against the Warriors, all eyes are on Anthony Davis and his performance. While he delivered some impressive plays in the previous round, his inconsistency raised concerns as he scored less than 14 points and had less than 12 rebounds in a few matches. The Lakers need Davis to bring his A+ game, especially since the Warriors have a weak interior defense. If Davis performs to his fullest potential, the Lakers could have the upper hand in the paint and potentially win Game 1 of the series.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are facing a tough turnaround after their recent nail-biting win against the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs’ first round. Despite overcoming a series deficit twice, the Warriors’ victory came at a cost as they lost their rest advantage ahead of their next game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, the Warriors remain optimistic, with a proven track record of overcoming playoff adversity. Since 2015, the Warriors’ core players, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, have not lost to any Western Conference team in the playoffs. This impressive record boosts their confidence in their chances of winning game one against the Lakers, especially with their third-ranked home record.

The Warriors will rely heavily on Curry’s outstanding performance to secure a victory as home favorites. He set a new Game 7 record for points in the first round, making him a key player to watch out for.

Klay Thompson’s performance is a crucial variable in the upcoming playoff series. In the first round, Thompson averaged 20.6 PPG, which is respectable, but his performance from beyond the arc was not up to his usual standards. Throughout the entire series, he only managed to shoot 36% from three-point range, mainly due to his poor showing in the final two games. In those games, Thompson struggled and shot a disappointing 4/19 from beyond the arc.

If Thompson can regain his shooting touch, he could be a game-changer for the Warriors.

Lakers vs. Warriors predictions

The Warriors have an advantage on the perimeter, with Steph Curry as their undisputed leader. In their recent Game 7 win against the Sacramento Kings, Curry set a new scoring record with an impressive 50 points behind 20 made field goals and seven three-pointers. However, the Warriors need more than just Curry’s heroics to overcome the challenge posed by the Lakers, and Klay Thompson needs to step up his scoring game in the Western Conference semifinals.

Although the Lakers have solid backcourt players in D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Dennis Schroder, the Warriors still have an advantage in that spot. However, their biggest concern is the matchup against Davis and James, who can be a handful for any team. Nonetheless, the Warriors can still put up a good fight, with Curry leading the way and Thompson looking to regain his play accuracy.