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The Los Angeles Lakers were baking one hell of a cake in the second half of the season, only to have injuries drop that sucker on the floor just before the party.
With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Los Angeles is left scooping crumbs, frosting, and championship hopes off the hardwood in these final days of the regular season.
The Lakers are grasping for the No. 4 seed in the West and praying for the best when the postseason begins, leaning on veteran star LeBron James to keep them on track.
LeBron and L.A. are underdogs in the Bay Area tonight, and our Lakers vs. Warriors predictions see James jacking up his share of shots from beyond the arc. My NBA picks take the King to top his 3-point prop.
Lakers vs Warriors prediction
Lakers vs Warriors best bet: LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes (+110)
LeBron James is as adaptable as they come. When Luka Doncic is out of the lineup, he picks up his playmaking, and we see his assist tallies soar. And when Austin Reaves is sidelined, James’ activity from outside increases.
LeBron is learning to live without either of his Los Angeles Lakers co-stars in the home stretch. While we have a small sample of games without Doncic and Reaves, James did fire up six 3-point attempts in the loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Looking at his last 19 games without Reaves in action, James has averaged 4.6 shots from beyond the arc, connecting for two or more in nine of those. For comparison, when Luka and Reaves were both healthy during L.A.’s red-hot run in March, LeBron was taking only 2.4 triples and making less than one of those long-range looks an outing.
Tonight’s game script has L.A. playing from behind versus the Golden State Warriors, and the rest of the Lakers lineup has provided spotty production, leaving head coach J.J. Redick to blast several players during this current stretch.
James was a one-man wrecking crew vs. Dallas and will have the green light against a Golden State defense that has slipped when it comes to protecting the perimeter. The Dubs have allowed foes to shoot 37% from distance since the All-Star break, and that’s blown up to 39% over the past 10.
LeBron has faced the Warriors twice this season, going 4-for-6 and 2-for-7 from downtown in those matchups. His projections for tonight range between 1.4 and 2.4 makes from 3-point land, with the bulk of those forecasts calling for two triples and his attempts as high as seven 3PAs.
Lakers vs Warriors same-game parlay
Los Angeles can at least keep it close against a Warriors roster that could protect players in this first game of back-to-back outings. The Lakers are desperate not to fall back in the West standings, as they’ll need all the help they can get in the postseason.
Deandre Ayton has been ripped by Redick for his recent efforts, but with the L.A. lineup hurting for offense, he’s capable of putting up points against a small Golden State frontcourt. His projections sit as high as 13 points.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
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LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
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Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 Points
Our “from downtown” SGP: Royal Flush
LeBron went nuclear on the Mavericks, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists, and hauling in nine rebounds. He sat out Tuesday’s matchup with OKC, so the 41-year-old has fresh legs for this trip to Golden State.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
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LeBron James Over 24.5 points
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LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
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LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Warriors odds
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Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-110) | Warriors -4.5 (-110)
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Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Warriors -190
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Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Warriors betting trend to know
The Over is 9-2 in the last 11 matchups between the Lakers and Warriors. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Warriors.
How to watch Lakers vs Warriors
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Location |
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA |
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Date |
Thursday, April 9, 2026 |
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Tip-off |
10:00 p.m. ET |
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TV |
Prime Video |
Lakers vs Warriors latest injuries
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