Behind a game-high 27 points from Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-106 on Wednesday to stave off elimination.
Now, the second-round series heads back to Los Angeles, with the Lakers still needing one victory to knock off the defending NBA champions.
Here are my Warriors vs Lakers best bets ahead of Friday’s crucial Game 6.
Warriors vs Lakers Game 6 Odds
NBA odds used for these best bets are current as of Thursday, May 11, at noon ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Lakers (-140) • Warriors (+120)
- Spread: Lakers -2.5 (-110) • Warriors +2.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 221.5 (-110) • Under 221.5 (-110)
Warriors vs Lakers Game 6 Prediction
Warriors 115, Lakers 111
Will Anthony Davis play? The Lakers star sustained an unspecified head injury late in Game 5, a potentially excruciating blow that could wreck Los Angeles’ path to the Western Conference finals.
After catching an inadvertent elbow from Warriors big man Kevon Looney, Davis required a wheelchair to get to the locker room for further evaluation.
If Davis is able to return for Game 6, Los Angeles should still be in prime position to close out the series. Golden State has been futile on the road.
However, without fully knowing Davis’ status, the Warriors have to be the pick. Obviously, this could change.
Tap into even more of our Western Conference Semifinals coverage:
Warriors vs Lakers Game 6 Best Bets
Warriors +2.5 (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Again, it all depends on Davis. The eight-time NBA All-Star has been dominant this series, averaging 22.4 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. While LeBron James is still a game-changing talent, he’s not at the point of his career where he can do it all himself.
Without knowing how healthy Davis will be, I’m fading the Lakers.
Warriors vs Lakers Game 5
- Prediction: Warriors 109, Lakers 104
- Result: Warriors 121, Lakers 106
Warriors vs Lakers Game 4
- Prediction: Lakers 116, Warriors 110
- Result: Lakers 104, Warriors 101
Warriors vs Lakers Game 3
- Prediction: Lakers 111, Warriors 108
- Result: Lakers 127, Warriors 97
Warriors vs Lakers Game 2
- Prediction: Warriors 113, Lakers 107
- Result: Warriors 127, Lakers 100
Warriors vs Lakers Game 1
- Prediction: Warriors 118, Lakers 112
- Result: Lakers 117, Warriors 112
Warriors vs Lakers Series Preview
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers both advanced as lower seeds, setting up a titanic matchup in the second round of the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs.
Ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1, which begins at 10 p.m. ET, let’s dive into my Warriors vs Lakers series predictions.
Warriors vs Lakers Series Odds
To Win Series: Warriors (-145) • Lakers (+120)
The series is packed with storylines — NorCal vs SoCal and Steph Curry vs LeBron James, to name a few — and if this showdown meets the expectations going in, fans could be in for a treat.
Curry and James have squared off four times in the NBA playoffs, but this will be the first meeting between the future Hall of Famers as Western Conference foes.
The Warriors had their hands full with De’Aaron Fox in the first round, but overcame a 2-0 series deficit to the upstart Kings to advance in seven games. Meanwhile, the remodeled Lakers upset the Grizzlies in six.
Homecourt advantage looms as a big boost for the Warriors (33-8 at the Chase Center compared to just 11-30 on the road). In fact, it’s enough to give them the overall edge.
Warriors vs Lakers Series Prediction
Warriors Win 4-2
Would I be surprised if Los Angeles sprung another upset and knocked off the defending NBA champions? No, of course not. In fact, despite the odds, I wouldn’t even consider it an upset. The Lakers are 3-1 against Golden State this season, and it’s never wise to rule out King James.
That said, it’s fair to wonder if the Lakers have an answer for Curry. Nobody in the Western Conference is playing better at the moment.
The All-Star guard became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points in a Game 7, surpassing Kevin Durant‘s 48 points against Milwaukee in 2021, and averaged 33.7 points on 48.8% shooting for the series.
It’ll take a collective effort to slow down Curry, and even then, Los Angeles still has to account for fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson. The Lakers have a size advantage, including 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis, but Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are known to create headaches for opposing bigs.
Given that, I can’t fade Curry and the Warriors.
Warriors vs Lakers Series Best Bets
Warriors -1.5 Games (+155) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Warriors are excellent at Chase Center, and they’re coming off a momentous Game 7 win over Sacramento. The home/road splits concern me (13-31 ATS on the road), but Curry is potent enough to stay hot and help Golden State steal a game in Los Angeles.
With stars on both sides, this is shaping up to be a long series. You can bet on it to go six (+205) or seven (+185) games for plus odds.
