The highly-anticipated rematch of LeBron James’ Lakers against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors is lacking the same level of excitement NBA marketing types hoped for. A short-handed LA squad tries to keep things respectable against a fully healthy Golden State side.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

G-State is coming off a 112-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Boogie Cousins’ debut performance. The Dubs are 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games and 6-3-1 against the spread over the same stretch of games.

The Warriors have topped 140 points in three of their last five games and the Over is 7-2 in their last nine contests. The defending champions own the league’s best true shooting percentage over the last 10 games (65.5%) and on the season overall (59.6%).

The Dubs are just 20-25-1 against the spread despite sitting in first place in the Western Conference at 32-14 SU. Golden State does seem to be playing some of its best basketball of the season as we inch closer to the All-Star break. The team is 17-5 straight up in its last 22 games with two of those losses coming as one-point setbacks in overtime.

The Lakers are playing great basketball as well, but another bite from the injury bug could arrest their momentum. The Purple and Gold lost in overtime to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, and they took down the Oklahoma City Thunder, in overtime as well, last Thursday.

LA is 4-2-1 against the number in its last five games and the team trails the Clippers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Dubs including Christmas Day’s 127-101 outright win as 9-point underdogs.

Golden State Warriors

DeMarcus Cousins is the player grabbing all the headlines in the Bay Area these days. The former All-Star centre made his season debut and played in his first game since tearing his Achilles’ tendon last winter.

The big man scored 14 points and added six rebounds in limited minutes against the Clippers on Friday night. He was a +21 but he also fouled out in just 15 minutes of action. Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 48 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season.

Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James is listed as questionable to play on Monday against his old rivals. James, who has lost to the Warriors in the Finals three of the last four seasons, hasn’t played since injured his groin against the Dubs on Xmas Day.

The Lakers are 5-8 SU and 6-6-1 ATS in the 13 games James has missed this season. LBJ isn’t the only player iffy to play on Monday. Starting point guard Lonzo Ball sprained his ankle and was forced to leave during the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Rockets.

Ball enjoyed one of his best games as a pro earlier in the week against OKC. The second-year player scored 18 points and tallied 10 assists with former league MVP Russell Westbrook guarding him for most of the night.

Injuries

Golden State

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Ques Fri Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Sun Calf - 31 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 27 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Thurs Calf - 19 / 05 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Knee - 15 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 07 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Wed Hip - 07 / 05 / 19

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Wed Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19

DeMarcus Cousins (C)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19

L.A. Lakers

Lance Stephenson (SG)

Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19

Mike Muscala (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19

Injuries

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19	0-1	0-2	+ -
Looney is expected to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors despite leaving the last game after aggravating his right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture.
Kevon Looney (C)	Ques Fri	Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19	1-3	3-2	+ -
Looney suffered a right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture to his collarbone and it is unknown if he will return against the Raptors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 31 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Iguodala is nursing left calf soreness but it is likely he will play against the Raptors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 27 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Livingston is expected to play against the Raptors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore left knee.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 19 / 05 / 19	2-4	5-3	+ -
Iguodala is dealing with tightness in his left calf but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors.
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 15 / 05 / 19	4-4	6-4	+ -
Looney is likely to partake in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Trail Blazers despite left knee soreness.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Iguodala has a hyperextended left knee but is expected to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Rockets.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Livingston is battling soreness in his left hip but is likely to suit up against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19	7-10	11-7-1	+ -
Green is nursing a right wrist injury but is projected to suit up against the Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
DeMarcus Cousins (C)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19	8-11	12-8-1	+ -
Cousins will be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors after recovering from a tear in his left quadriceps.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lance Stephenson (SG)	Ques Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	2-2	+ -
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 26 / 03 / 19	7-2	4-5	+ -
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 19	7-3	4-6	+ -
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 03 / 19	7-5	5-7	+ -
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.

Warriors vs. Lakers Prediction