There’s a lot on the line when the Golden State Warriors travel to L.A. to face the Lakers on Wednesday night.  The winner of this 7-8 Play-In Tournament game will automatically advance to the playoffs to face the Phoenix Suns in the first round as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.  The loser will face the winner of the Memphis Grizzlies – San Antonio Spurs game for the eighth seed in the West.  Can Steph Curry keep the Warriors rolling, or will LeBron James save the day in L.A.?

The Lakers are 5.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds with a total of 218.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

After Golden State won a close game against L.A. early in the season, the Lakers won the only other two games in this season series, holding the Warriors to less than 100 points in both wins.  Unsurprisingly, the total went Under in the two L.A. wins, while these teams hit the Over in Golden States’ early season win.

The Warriors rode a 15-5 finish in the regular season, including a current six-game win streak, to this spot in the Play-In Tournament.  They’re 37-35 against the spread this season and have covered in their last six games.  Golden State has hit the Over in four of their last five games.

The regular presence of James into the lineup helped the Lakers down the stretch and they come into this game with wins in their last five outings.  L.A. struggled to cover over their last 15 games, going 4-10-1 ATS in that time.  The total has gone Under in four of their last six games against Pacific Division opponents.

Golden State Warriors

Despite being the underdogs in this game, the Warriors come into Wednesday with eight wins in their final nine games of the regular season.  Golden State clinched the No. 8 spot and a chance at the playoffs with a 113-101 win over Memphis on Sunday.  You know you’re always going to get a world class performance from Curry, so it could actually be Andrew Wiggins who plays a crucial role against L.A.  Wiggins had 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Grizzlies, which is a performance he needs to duplicate for the Warriors to have a chance in this game.

Curry can’t do it alone, although he comes into this game about as hot as you can.  Averaging 32 points per game this year, he’s fresh off his second NBA scoring title and capped off the regular season with a 46-point performance in the final game against Memphis.  Curry was even better down the final stretch of the season, averaging 37.2 points a night over his last 20 games.  If Golden State wins this game, Curry will need another monster performance and players like Wiggins and Draymond Green need to step up.

Los Angeles Lakers

After playing most of the season without one or both of their superstars, the Lakers finally look healthy with James and Anthony Davis both in the lineup.  James missed six weeks of action with an ankle injury, while Davis was out for 30 games with a calf injury.  James averaged 21 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per games since his return over the final four games of the regular season.  Davis averaged 19.7 points per game since his return, but he actually put up 28 or more points in three of his last five games.

L.A.’s last game saw them cruise to a fairly easy 110-98 win against New Orleans.  James had a team-high 25 points, while every Lakers starter finished with double-digit points.  The key for L.A. against the Warriors will be shutting Curry down.  Players like Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso will need to focus on Curry and force Golden State to try to score with someone else.  With Davis, Andre Drummond and Montrezl Harrell, the Lakers also have a noticeable size advantage in the paint and could focus their game in that area.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Warriors vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Warriors Team Leaders

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 31.98
Assists	Draymond Green 8.86
Rebounds	Draymond Green 7.11
FG%	Gary Payton II 76.9
Steals	Draymond Green 1.67
Blocks	Jordan Bell 2

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

GS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 31.98
Assists	Draymond Green 8.86
Rebounds	Draymond Green 7.11
FG%	Gary Payton II 76.9
Steals	Draymond Green 1.67
Blocks	Jordan Bell 2

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

GS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

Injuries

Golden State

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21

Draymond Green (PF)

Ques Sun Finger - 14 / 05 / 21

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 14 / 05 / 21

Mychal Mulder (SG)

Ques Fri Foot - 13 / 05 / 21

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Tues Hip - 04 / 05 / 21

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Out Mon Knee - 03 / 05 / 21

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 01 / 05 / 21

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Early June Wrist - 28 / 04 / 21

Kent Bazemore (SG)

Prob Thurs Illness - 23 / 04 / 21

Damion Lee (SG)

Out indefinitely Illness - 20 / 04 / 21

L.A. Lakers

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Ques Thurs Knee - 02 / 06 / 21

Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)

Out indefinitely Personal - 31 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 28 / 05 / 21

Andre Drummond (C)

Ques Sun Leg - 20 / 05 / 21

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)

Prob Sun Foot - 14 / 05 / 21

Marc Gasol (C)

Prob Sun Finger - 14 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21	3-0	2-1	+ -
Poole is expected to dress for Sunday's tilt with the Grizzlies despite a left ankle sprain.
Draymond Green (PF)	Ques Sun	Finger - 14 / 05 / 21	3-0	2-1	+ -
Green sat out the previous game with a finger injury, and it is unknown if he will play Sunday versus the Grizzlies.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 14 / 05 / 21	3-0	2-1	+ -
Wiggins missed the last game due to a knee injury, but it is projected that he will line up against the Grizzlies on Sunday.
Mychal Mulder (SG)	Ques Fri	Foot - 13 / 05 / 21	3-0	2-1	+ -
Mulder is nursing a foot injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Pelicans on Friday.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Tues	Hip - 04 / 05 / 21	7-1	4-4	+ -
Green is managing a hip injury, but it is likely that he will face the Pelicans on Tuesday.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Out Mon	Knee - 03 / 05 / 21	8-1	4-5	+ -
Wiggins is dealing with right knee soreness, and he will not play in Monday's game versus the Pelicans.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 01 / 05 / 21	8-2	5-5	+ -
Green is bothered by a left trapezius contusion, but is it projected that he will be available to face the Rockets on Saturday.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Early June	Wrist - 28 / 04 / 21	8-4	6-6	+ -
Oubre Jr. is sidelined with left wrist soreness, and he is not expected to return to the court until the early part of June.
Kent Bazemore (SG)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 23 / 04 / 21	9-5	6-8	+ -
Bazemore has been added to the COVID-19 injured list, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
Damion Lee (SG)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 20 / 04 / 21	10-5	6-9	+ -
Lee is sidelined while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 02 / 06 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 31 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is away from the team while tending to a personal matter, and there is no timetable for return.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 28 / 05 / 21	2-2	0-3-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a left knee contusion, but he is likely to suit up for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Andre Drummond (C)	Ques Sun	Leg - 20 / 05 / 21	3-3	0-5-1	+ -
Drummond is dealing with a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Caruso is battling left foot soreness, but he is likely to be active for Sunday's game versus the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is bothered by lower-back tightness, but he is projected to be available for Sunday's contest against the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is hindered by lower-back tightness, but he is likely to be in Saturday's lineup versus the Pacers.
Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
McKinnie was held out of the last game with a right foot sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the Pelicans on Sunday.
Marc Gasol (C)	Prob Sun	Finger - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Gasol missed the last game due to a finger injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available to face the Pelicans on Sunday.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-6	3-6-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is expected to suit up against the Rockets despite an ankle injury.