Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions December 25th 2024

Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers December 25th 2024

At 8:00 ET, the 7th-ranked Lakers (+134) will travel to San Francisco to take on the 8th-ranked Warriors (-159) in a Western Pacific Division matchup. The over/under line is set at 225.

This game will be played at Chase Center and can be seen on ABC.

Lakers vs. Warriors Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
• Where: San Francisco at Chase Center
• Date: Wednesday, December 25th
• Betting Odds GS -3.5, LAL +134 | GS -159 O/U 225

The Lakers Can Win If…

The Lakers fell to 16-13 on the season after a 117-114 loss to the Pistons on Monday. Despite being favored by 6.5 points at home, Los Angeles couldn’t cover the spread. The game’s total score of 231 points exceeded the pre-game line of 222.

Detroit’s 14-0 run early in the game put the Lakers in a tough spot, but they battled back to take a 92-93 deficit into the 4th quarter. However, the Pistons edged them out 24-22 in the final period.

LeBron James notched a triple-double with 28 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds, shooting 62.5% from the field in the Lakers’ 117-114 loss to the Pistons. Anthony Davis added 19 points and 10 boards, while Max Christie contributed 17 points, hitting 3 threes at a 75% clip.

The Lakers connected on 14 threes, shooting 46.7% from deep and 54.1% overall. LeBron scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, while Christie added 5 of his 17 in the final frame.

The Lakers’ defense struggled to contain the Pistons, giving up 117 points on 51% shooting in their loss on Monday. They allowed 34 points in the 1st quarter and 31 in the 3rd, but managed to tighten up in the 4th, holding Detroit to 24 points.

From beyond the arc, the Lakers limited the Pistons to 11 threes on 36% shooting. Detroit also went 12/12 from the free-throw line. Los Angeles gave up 10 offensive rebounds while recording 8 steals and 3 blocks.

• Los Angeles has a 2-3 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 105 points per game while allowing 112. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
• The Lakers have played well in their last five games as the betting underdog, going 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the spread.
• Over their last three games, the Lakers have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Warriors Can Win If…

The Warriors fell to 15-13 on the season after a 111-105 home loss to the Pacers on Monday. Golden State, favored by six points, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 216, falling short of the 231.5-point over/under line.

After trailing 62-54 at halftime, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run to take the lead, but they couldn’t hold on, as the Pacers edged them out 22-20 in the 4th quarter.

In their 111-105 loss to the Pacers, the Warriors shot 43.3% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 31.6% of their threes, making 12 in total. Jonathan Kuminga led the way with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 56.2% from the field and 66.7% from three.

Andrew Wiggins added 16 points, while Trayce Jackson-Davis contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the floor. Kuminga scored 10 points in the 4th quarter, adding 9 in the 2nd and 7 in the 3rd.

Despite a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter, the Warriors couldn’t overcome their early struggles, allowing 33 points in the 1st quarter and 29 in the 2nd, leading to a 111-105 loss to the Pacers. Golden State gave up 111 points on 48% shooting from the field.

The Warriors did an excellent job defending the three, holding Indiana to 31% from beyond the arc with just 11 made threes. They also sent the Pacers to the line only 11 times, where they made 10 free throws. Golden State finished with 33 defensive rebounds, allowing 8 offensive boards, and added 7 steals and 7 blocks.

• Golden State has a 1-2 record in their last three home games. In this stretch, they averaged 98 points per game while allowing 112. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• As the betting favorite, the Warriors have an ATS mark of just 1-2 in their last three games. Golden State posted a straight up mark of 1-2 in these matchups.
• In their last three games, the Warriors have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

When looking to get a point-spread pick down in this Lakers vs. Warriors game, our recommendation is to take the Lakers at +3.5. Despite our model showing the Warriors winning 123-122, we like Lakers as our point-spread pick.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 225, and our model predicts the Lakers and Warriors to score a combined 245 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Lakers and Warriors Clash on Christmas Night in Bounce-Back Battle

LeBron James and Stephen Curry headline the Christmas Day primetime showcase as the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Both teams seek to recover from narrow home losses.

Holiday Spotlight for NBA Legends

Christmas Day reunites two of the NBA’s all-time greats, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, as they face off in the fourth holiday matchup of their storied careers. This clash, however, arrives with a different narrative as both the Lakers (17-14) and Warriors (16-15) currently sit in play-in positions in the Western Conference playoff standings.

The matchup evokes memories of their prime years when James and Curry faced off in three prior Christmas games during their championship-contending runs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. Now in the twilight of their careers, both stars continue to make significant contributions to their respective teams.

James, approaching his 40th birthday on Monday, is delivering remarkable performances. He recently posted a triple-double in a narrow 117-114 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top all-around players.

“You just got to match physicality with physicality,” James said after the loss. “I’m a football player, so I don’t mind physicality to be honest.”

James joins Nikola Jokic as the only players in the league currently averaging at least 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game.

Curry and Warriors Seek Chemistry

For the Warriors, Curry has hit an uncharacteristic slump in recent games, shooting just 2-for-20 overall and 2-for-15 from beyond the arc in losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers. The addition of Dennis Schroder, acquired in a trade from Brooklyn, has coincided with Curry’s struggles.

Schroder, who arrived in Golden State averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists, has yet to find his rhythm with the Warriors, shooting just 27.6 percent overall and 9.1 percent from 3-point range in three games.

Curry remains optimistic about building chemistry with Schroder.

“It could be a lot better, and it will be,” Curry said. “You just got to understand when to pick and choose your spots based on the attention you get. Get the ball moving, try to find a rhythm a little earlier.”

The Warriors, playing in their 12th straight Christmas Day game, aim to build on their historic success against the Lakers on the holiday, which includes a memorable 127-101 victory in 2018.

Key Matchups

For the Lakers:

• LeBron James: James’ versatility and leadership are critical for the Lakers, especially as the team looks to stabilize its inconsistent performance.
• Anthony Davis: The Lakers’ big man must capitalize on Golden State’s recent struggles in the paint to give L.A. an edge.

For the Warriors:

• Stephen Curry: Curry’s ability to rebound from his recent shooting woes will be key for Golden State’s offense to flow smoothly.
• Dennis Schroder: The newly acquired guard will need to improve his efficiency to complement Curry in the backcourt.

Who’s the MVP favorite? Check out NBA MVP Odds & Predictions!

Outlook

Both teams are hungry for a win to solidify their playoff positioning, making this high-profile matchup more than just a showcase for two legendary players. While the Warriors have struggled with recent adjustments, their home court and history of Christmas success could give them a slight edge.