<p>NBA bettors get a great match-up to play with when the defending champion Lakers host the Warriors for one of those NBA playoffs “play-in” games Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Both teams come in hot; Los Angeles won its last six games of the regular season, Golden State its last five. Who do we like here for our <a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nba/free-nba-picks&quot; title="Free NBA Picks">free NBA pick</a>? </p>
<h2>NBA Betting Odds </h2>
<p>NBA playoffs <a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nba/odds&quot; title="NBA Betting Odds">betting odds</a> opened LA at -7 over Golden State, with an over/under of right around 222. Early betting action then dipped the Lakers to -5 and the total to 220.</p>
<p>Any bettors out there who think the Warriors might win this game outright could get upwards of +160 on the NBA betting money line.</p>
<h2>Warriors-Lakers NBA Betting Preview </h2>
<p>This game is not do-or-die; the winner claims the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and meets Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs, while the loser will play the winner of Wednesday's Memphis-San Antonio game for the No. 8 seed.</p>
<p>Whatever, right?</p>
<p>Golden State finished 39-33 this season, good for eighth place in the Western Conference. The Warriors actually sat a game under .500 three weeks ago, then won eight of their last nine games, including back-to-back victories over the two best teams in the West, Utah, and Phoenix. Most recently, Golden State beat the Grizzlies Sunday 113-101.</p>
<p>So the Warriors are back in the playoffs after missing out last season.</p>
<p>Los Angeles, meanwhile, fought through some significant injuries to go 42-30 this season, which placed it seventh in the West. The Lakers stumbled through a 9-17 stretch from late March into May, then won their last five, beginning with a decision over the Suns. Most recently, LA won at New Orleans Sunday 110-98, covering at -9.5.</p>
<p>LeBron James missed 27 games with injuries this season, and Anthony Davis missed 36. But they're both back now, and while James is nursing a sore ankle, he's going to play Wednesday night.</p>
<p>The Lakers are 30-15 SU but only 21-24 ATS with James this season; 23-13 SU, 17-19 ATS with Davis; and 21-10 SU, 14-17 ATS with both.</p>
<p>LA took the season series from Golden State this year two games to one. The Warriors rallied from 19 points down to win the first meeting back in January outright 115-113 as dogs of 8.5 points in LA. But the Lakers won the next two meetings by scores of 117-91 and 128-97, covering easily at -3 and -1.5.</p>
<p>Somewhat strangely, Davis and James both played in the game. Los Angeles lost to Golden State while Davis missed both Lakers' victories.<br />
<section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nba/matchup/1412506">Golden State/LA Lakers 5/19/21 Matchup Stats</a></span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>
<h2>NBA Betting Trends </h2>
<ul>
<li>The Warriors are 17-23 ATS as underdogs this season.</li>
<li>The Lakers are 10-9 ATS when favored by five or fewer points this season.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<ul>
<li>Unders are 42-30 in Warriors games this season.</li>
<li>Unders are 43-28 in Lakers games this season.</li>
<li>Unders played 2-1 in Warriors-Lakers games this season, which averaged 220 total points against an average over/under of 224.</li>
</ul>