The Golden State Warriors are only one win away from making history. They will become the first-ever NBA franchise to open a season 16-0 if they can overcome Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena. Can the defending champions succeed in doing so? Or will the woeful Lakers find a way pull off the improbable upset?
Read on further for a complete breakdown of this Pacific division showdown, and while you’re at it, check out our previews of the Indiana Pacers vs. Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trailblazers.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Preview
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland
When: Tuesday, November 24, 2015, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (+17) vs. Golden State Warriors (-17); total: 212.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (2-11)
It’s been extremely tough being a Laker-faithful these days. The Los Angeles Lakers, who are just 2-11 this season, continue to make losing a habit. They suffered their third-straight loss Sunday night, falling to the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 107-93. The Lakers now travel to Oakland with their minds focused on an upset opposite the undefeated Golden State Warriors.
This game is basically a “David and Goliath“ except the Lakers need more than just a slingshot to bring down the reigning champions. But surely, Kobe Bryant and company know that already. They head into this matchup with the odds stacked up against them and a team that still needs to solve a lot of issues.
Speaking of issues, the purple and gold have struggled to knock down their shots this season. They are currently the worst team in the league at that department, shooting at just 41.3 percent collectively. Bryant (16.3 PPG) can definitely attest to this, as he’s only 33.1 percent from the floor and 20 percent from beyond the arc. This can’t be the case if they hope to—at least—make things interesting later.
One bright spot that the Lakers could look to, though, is their rookie point guard in D’Angelo Russell, who’s beginning to play with more confidence. Across his last three games, the Ohio State product is averaging 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 dimes.
Plus, emerging talents like Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle could provide the Warriors some trouble on offense. The two are averaging 15.8 PPG and 11.1 PPG respectively throughout 13 games of action.
However, the Lakers will have their work cut out for them as they’ll be trying hold off the Warriors’ offense that’s posting a league-high of 114.5 points per game this season. Head coach Byron Scott will need to pull out all the tricks and stops to get the win.
Los Angeles is 1-6 SU and 3-4 ATS on the road this season.
Golden State Warriors Prop Bet
The way how the Golden State Warriors have been playing as of late, they’re on pace to match or even break the 72-10 record of 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team. Obviously, it’s still too early to say whether or not they’ll be able do so but nonetheless, there’s no harm on cashing in on their chances of completing this remarkable feat. Click here to place your bets now.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors (15-0)
Who can stop the Golden State Warriors? That has been the hottest question lingering around the league this season. The Warriors seem to have have silenced all their doubters (for now) by opening 15-0 to match the mark also owned by the 1948-49 Washington Capitals and 1993-94 Houston Rockets. They’ll have a chance to break that record and cement themselves in the history books tonight against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
The pressure is certainly on the defending champions to not let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to slip by. Stephen Curry, who’s tallying 32.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 5.7 APG this season, could be in for another spectacular outing versus a woeful Lakers’ squad that’s 27th in the league in terms of defensive efficiency.
Moreover, his backcourt mate Klay Thompso is bound to join the party as well. Thompson has torched the Lakers in his career, posting 21.4 PPG throughout 16 games. He’s also shooting 40.0 percent from the three-point line during that span.
But if there’s one thing that could spell doom for the Warriors, it would be turnovers. Their opponents have capitalized on their miscues and errors by averaging 18.4 points per game, which is the eighth-most in the NBA. As long as they keep that in mind, it’ll be smooth-sailing for them from start to finish.
Golden State is 7-3 SU and ATS in its last 10 meetings with Los Angeles.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lakers keep it close and eventually fail to keep in pace with Golden State’s high-octane offense down the stretch. The Warriors (-17) make history with a win but come up short in covering the spread.
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