A matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors on a national TNT broadcast on a Thursday should have been must-see TV. Instead, with the Warriors sporting the worst record in the NBA and the Lakers deciding to rest LeBron James (he’s out with a groin injury), Thursday’s game feels like a bit of a yawn. With James out, do the Warriors have any shot in this matchup of the Western Conference’s best and worst teams?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lakers are 44-12 on the year and 30-25 against the spread (ATS). They are 28-7 when the total is 220 or higher but are 20-14 ATS in those games. They are a healthy 25-18 against poor defensive teams that give up 106 points per game or more.

The Warriors have just one win this season against a team with a winning record (1-22) and they’re just 9-13-1 against the spread in those games. They are 25-28 ATS as an underdog but are 2-0 ATS as a home dog of 12.5 or more. They’ve actually covered nine of their last 10 in that role.

Los Angeles Lakers

What does it say about the Warriors that the Lakers, without LeBron James, are a 13-point favorite in Golden State on Thursday night? That’s an absolute massive number on the road considering James is out but the oddsmakers are telling us that it probably doesn’t matter.

Of course, the Lakers will still have Anthony Davis in the lineup and he’s been a monster of late. He’s been the team’s leading scorer in eight of their last 10 games. In that span, he’s averaging 27.4 points per outing with 10.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.8 blocks, 1.5 steals while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Those are incredible numbers. One of those wins was over Golden State when Davis finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. The Warriors biggest weakness on the roster is in the pain, so Davis should feast on Thursday night.

Golden State Warriors

To call the Warriors a dumpster fire might be an insult to dumpster fires. This is a team that’s lost 12 of their last 14 games. They somehow pieced together a four-game winning streak at the end of December. Since then, they are 3-22.

Of course, the main issue with the Warriors is they simply don’t have their stars. Sure, Andrew Wiggins is doing the best he can but even he’s faded of late. He has a total of 24 points in his last two games after averaging near that number in his first four. With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson out, the Warriors are putting out a lineup without two of their All-Stars.

The one silver lining is that the Warriors lost at home to the Lakers on Saturday, Feb. 8 and that final score was just 125-120. That loss came with James in the lineup, so maybe they can again keep it close with him out?

Who Will Win Lakers vs. Warriors?

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20

Golden State

Marquese Chriss (PF)

day-to-day Knee - 11 / 03 / 20

Juan Toscano-Anderson (SF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 10 / 03 / 20

Stephen Curry (PG)

day-to-day Flu - 07 / 03 / 20

Alen Smailagic (PF)

day-to-day Quadricep - 04 / 03 / 20

Kevon Looney (PF)

out for season Abdominal - 01 / 03 / 20

Alen Smailagic (PF)

Out indefinitely Quadricep - 01 / 03 / 20

Draymond Green (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 29 / 02 / 20

Ky Bowman (PG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Sat Back - 27 / 02 / 20

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 11 / 10 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 05 / 10 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 03 / 10 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Finger - 26 / 09 / 20	2-4	4-3	+ -
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20	2-5	5-3	+ -
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 19 / 09 / 20	4-6	6-5	+ -
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Marquese Chriss (PF)	day-to-day	Knee - 11 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Chriss hurt his right knee, but he will likely be active once the league commences play.
Juan Toscano-Anderson (SF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 10 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Toscano-Anderson sprained his left ankle, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Stephen Curry (PG)	day-to-day	Flu - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Curry has recovered from flu-like symptoms, and he is expected to return to action upon the leagues announcement of when it will start back up.
Alen Smailagic (PF)	day-to-day	Quadricep - 04 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smailagic is out with a right quadriceps contusion, and it is up in the air if he will return to the fold when the league announces that the hiatus is over.
Kevon Looney (PF)	out for season	Abdominal - 01 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Looney is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of the season after having core muscle surgery.
Alen Smailagic (PF)	Out indefinitely	Quadricep - 01 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smailagic will miss an undetermined length of time with a right quadriceps contusion.
Draymond Green (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 29 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Green has been out with left knee soreness, and a timeline for his return has yet to be established.
Ky Bowman (PG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Bowman suffered a lateral right ankle sprain, but he is likely to return to the court Tuesday versus the Clippers.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Poole sat out the last game with a right ankle sprain, but he is projected to play against the Wizards on Sunday.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Sat	Back - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Wiggins was held out of the previous game with a thoracic spasm, but he is expected to bounce back in time for Saturday's matchup against the Suns.