Game 2 – Lakers vs. Warriors Picks, Predictions, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

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The NBA Playoffs resume on Thursday night with a pivotal Game 2 showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Coverage begins from the Chase Center in San Francisco at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING PREDICTION

This series is one of the most highly anticipated second-round playoff matchups in recent memory, and Tuesday’s opener certainly didn’t disappoint, as the Warriors cut down L. A’s long-standing lead to just three points with just 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game 1, but with their fate on the line in the final moments, Jordan Poole came up empty on a potential game-tying three-point attempt, and the Lakers managed to escape with a victory on the heels of a monster 30-point, 20-rebound performance from Anthony Davis.

Heading into Game 1, the Warriors appeared to have a clear strategy locked and loaded. Golden State  leads the league in long-range attempts per game and also ranks Top 10 in three-point percentage (43 3PA, 39% 3P), while L. A. ranks just 26th in three-point attempts and knocks them down at the sixth-worst clip (31 3PA, 35% 3P).

So, in theory, it made sense for Golden State to try to bait L. A. into a three-point shootout early on, and to a certain extent, it worked out for them on the statsheet, as the Warriors knocked down roughly 40% of their 56 long-range attempts in the contest, and the Lakers hit just 24% of their 25 attempts.

However, what they failed to account for, was the Lakers’ ability to get to the foul line and dominate the painted area, highlighted by L. A. making 25-of- 29 free throw attempts on the way to a narrow victory, while Golden State hit just 5-of-6 attempts at the charity stripe; ultimately serving as the main factor separating these two teams in Tuesday’s series opener.

Now, Golden State desperately needs to win Game 2. The Warriors posted records of 33-8 at home and 11-30 on the road during the regular season, while ranking 5th and 23rd in net rating based on game location respectively. Can they steal a win or two in this series on the road? Sure, they won a pair of road games in the previous round against Sacramento, but given their track record, it’s tough to imagine the Warriors making it out of this series alive if they drop a second straight in their home building on Thursday night. 

The Lakers have arguably been the best team in basketball since the trade deadline, highlighted by L. A. ranking 2nd in the entire league in net rating since mid-February, and clearly, Golden State had no answer for Davis at the defensive end in Game 1.

However, the Warriors are usually an immovable force on their homefloor, and in the aftermath of a frustrating home loss a few nights ago, there’s a good chance that we’ll see them bounce back with authority in Game 2 against a Lakers’ squad that ranks 20th in offensive rating and 25th in three-point percentage on the year.

Score Prediction: Warriors 117, Lakers 106
Best Bet: Warriors -6 (-110)

Take GSW!

BET NOW!

LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING ODDS

LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023
Venue: Chase Center
Location: San Francisco, California
TV-Time: ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET
Matchup
Expert Picks

NBA Finals Betting Odds

LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING STATS

Los Angeles Lakers
SU: 49-41
ATS: 45-43-1
O/U: 46-42-1
PPG: 117.2
OPPG: 116.6

Golden State Warriors
SU: 48-42
ATS: 43-47
O/U: 50-40
PPG: 118.9
OPPG: 117.1

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BETTING TRENDS

• The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Lakers' last 16 games.
• The Lakers are 8-2 SU in their last ten games.
• The Warriors are 12-6 SU in their last 18 games.
• The Warriors are 14-3 SU in their last 17 home games.
• The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Golden State.
• The Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last five games against Golden State.
• The total has gone OVER in seven of the Lakers' last nine road games.
• The total has gone OVER in six of Golden State's last nine games against the Lakers.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson