The whole basketball world was wondering when the Golden State Warriors would finally turn it on, and the answer is now. Golden State has everything clicking as it is in the midst of an impressive winning streak and is healthier than at any point this season. That is not a good thing for the rest of the NBA, and the Los Angeles Lakers could be the next victim this week.
The Lakers are at home and likely would have made a game of this if LeBron James was healthy, but he is not expected to play. The Warriors will be the road favorites to keep rolling and capture this contest in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 21st, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Warriors have overtaken the Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with their recent hot streak. Golden State has an overall record of 31-14 on the season, which isn’t as good as expected but has been enough to put it in the driver’s seat in the West down the stretch. In an ideal world the Warriors finish with the best record in the NBA to guarantee home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Golden State has gone 13-8 on the road this season.
The Lakers are 25-21 on the season and have dropped down to the No. 8 seed in the West. Los Angeles has been good at home with a mark of 15-9 and hopes to play well with the backing of its crowd.
Injury Report
James was injured on a play the last time these two teams played on Christmas Day and has not played since. The Lakers have shown how much they rely on him as there have been issues without arguably the best player in the NBA. James is recovering but it’s unknown exactly when he will be back. If he can manage to play in this one it would be a huge boost for the Lakers.
The Warriors are expected to have All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins in the fold, as he is set to make his season debut on Friday. Cousins signed with Golden State in free agency after tearing his Achilles last year. He has been rehabilitating for the first half of the season and is now ready to go.
The Warriors can now roll out a literal All-Star team when Cousins is joined by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant on the court. Check to see if there are any minutes restrictions on Cousins in this game, as it could have a tiny impact on the margin.
Previous Matchup
What a difference a couple weeks makes. The Lakers beat the Warriors 127-101 on Dec. 25 and looked like a legitimate contender in the West. However, the team has fallen on hard times since James got hurt.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have won eight of ten games since them, reclaiming their rightful spot atop the West. Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma had a nice game in the previous matchup and he will need to play well in this one in order to give his team a shot at hanging around.
Golden State shot only 25 percent from three-point range in the previous matchup but it’s unlikely that happens again.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Warriors are rolling, and even if James was at full strength, Golden State would be favored based on the way it is playing. If the Lakers are missing their superstar, the Warriors will be able to pull away for a relatively easy win.
Golden State is the choice to pick up this victory and stay hot in NBA odds.
NBA ATS Pick: Golden State Warriors 130, Los Angeles Lakers 115
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