Last year, the Lakers made a blockbuster move, acquiring Luka Doncic, reshaping the roster around him alongside aging legend LeBron James and others. The offense is explosive, driven by Doncic’s scoring and facilitation. But defense has been average, and depth/injuries have been factors. They’re firmly in playoff position (top-6 seed), with a realistic shot at climbing higher if they stay healthy. The NBA betting odds focus is on chemistry around the new core and managing LeBron James’s minutes/load.
Overall, it’s a promising season for the Lakers—playoff-bound with superstar talent driving them. Although consistency and defense will determine how far they go in the loaded Western Conference. The Doncic trade is a huge winner.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are in a competitive yet inconsistent position in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The Warriors are fighting to secure a top-6 seed and avoid the play-in. The team balances strong scoring from stars with good defense, but inconsistency (e.g., turnovers, shooting nights) has hurt them. Stephen Curry remains the engine at age 37, with high-volume scoring and leadership.
The Warriors are in the playoff mix (likely play-in bound but with upside to climb). Specifically, they rely on Curry’s shooting, defensive intensity, and veteran experience. Depth and road performance could be keys in a tough West.
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
| Date and Time: | Saturday, January 7, 2026, 8:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| TV Coverage: | ABC |
| Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
Warriors at Lakers Betting Odds Analysis
The Lakers have a relatively clean injury situation among their core stars, but a few depth/young players are sidelined or questionable. In comparison, the Warriors are dealing with more significant absences, especially in their backcourt and wing depth. Curry is day-to-day, and Jonathan Kuminga is out, heading the list.
Golden State Warriors Team Overview
The Warriors are 27-24 straight up, 23-27-1 against the spread, and 29-22 over/under the sports betting total. Late on Golden State has covered two out of their last seven games. While the Warriors have gone under the total in three of their previous five matchups.
Golden State ranks 14th in scoring offense, 22nd in field goal percentage, 12th in 3-point field goal percentage, 6th in free throw percentage, and 23rd in offensive rebounding. In turn, the Warriors rank 10th in scoring defense, 18th in field goal percentage allowed, 10th in 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 21st in defensive rebounding.
Los Angeles Lakers Team Overview
The Lakers are 30-19 straight up, 26-22-1 against the spread, and 28-21 over/under the NBA betting total. Late on, Los Angeles has covered six out of their last nine games. While the Lakers have gone under the total in six of their previous nine matchups.
Overall, Los Angeles ranks 13th in scoring offense, 1st in field goal percentage, 21st in 3-point field goal percentage, 24th in free throw percentage, and 26th in offensive rebounding. The Lakers rank 18th in scoring defense, 27th in field goal percentage allowed, 24th in 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 3rd in defensive rebounding.
Warriors at Lakers Betting Trends
The Lakers covered 11 of their last 18 games against the Warriors. Also, the Lakers and Warriors went over the total in 14 of their last 20 matchups. The Lakers covered 7 of their last 11 home games against Golden State. Finally, the Lakers and Warriors went over the total in their last six games at LA.
Warriors at Lakers Free SBG Picks
Of course, the Lakers enter as favorites due to superior health (especially vs. the Warriors’ backcourt/forward issues), star dominance, home court, and better overall season performance. If Curry plays limited or misses time, LA’s advantages grow even larger. Hence, this could be a statement win for the Lakers in a tight Western Conference race.
Warriors at Lakers SBG Best Bet: Los Angeles Lakers.