Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, April 12, 2013, 10:30 pm Eastern, TV: CSN-Bay, TWS, NBA LP
Staples Center – Los Angeles, California
Opening Line: Los Angeles -6
Current Line: Los Angeles -7 1/2
Opening Total: 206
Current Total: 206
Opening Money Line: Lakers -290 / Warriors +240
Current Money Line: Lakers -350 / Warriors +290
The 42-37 Los Angeles Lakers are a game ahead of the Utah Jazz for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West. However, Utah holds the tiebreaker, so the Lakers must win all three of their remaining games to guarantee a playoff spot. All three are at home, but the Lakers do face 3 straight playoff teams to close out the regular season. First up is a game against the 45-34 Golden State Warriors Friday night at the Staples Center. The Warriors are currently the #6 seed in the West, but they are only a half game ahead of the Houston Rockets. The Jazz host the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday, and Houston hosts the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Warriors lost at home last night to the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-97. Golden State clinched a playoff spot Tuesday night when they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 and Utah lost at home to the Thunder. The Lakers have won two straight games, and 5 of the last 6. LA won at Portland Wednesday night 113-106. Kobe Bryant scored a season high 47 points in the win. It was was the first time the Lakers had won both games of a back-to-back all season.
Los Angeles leads the series 2-1 against Golden State this season. The Warriors lost 101-77 at Staples November 9 101-77. LA has also won 34 0f the last 37 at home against Golden State, including 9 in a row by an average of just under 15 points. The Lakers also won in Oakland December 22 118-115 in overtime. The Warriors won at home 109-103 March 25. It was only the second win in the last 20 games against the Lakers for the Warriors.
Golden State is coached by Mark Jackson. The Warriors are outscoring teams 101-100 this season. Golden State is #9 in scoring but #19 in points allowed. The Warriors are shooting 45.7% from the field and 40.2% from 3 point range. Golden State is #11 in field goal percentage and lead the league in 3 point shooting. The Warriors are #4 in free throw shooting at 79% from from the line. Golden State is #3 in rebounding at 44.8 per game, but #20 in rebounds allowed at 42.9 per game. Warrior opponents are shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.4% from 3 point range. Golden State is in the top 5 in both categories. The Warriors average 22.4 assists, 7 steals, 4.2 blocks, and 14.8 turnovers. Golden State is 39-39-1 ATS and the total is 45-33-1 this season.
Guard Stephen Curry averages 22.5 points, 4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Power forward David Lee averages 18.5 points, 11 .3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Guard Klay Thompson averages 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Point guard Jarrett Jack averages 13.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 3 rebounds per game. Forward Carl Landry averages 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Forward Harrison Barnes averages 9.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Center Andrew Bogut is out with an ankle injury. Bogut is averaging 5.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Guard Brandon Rush is out for the season with a knee injury.
The Lakers are coached by Mike D’Antoni. LA is outscoring teams 102-101 this season. The Lakers are #6 in scoring but #24 in points allowed. Los Angeles is shooting 46% from the field and 35.4% from 3 point range. The Lakers are #10 in field goal percentage. LA is last in the league in free throw shooting at 69.1% from the line. The Lakers average 44.6 rebounds per game, and give up 42.6 per game. Los Angeles is #4 in rebounding. Laker opponents are shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.8% from 3 point range. The Lakers average 22.2 assists, 7.1 steals, 5.2 blocks, and 14.7 turnovers per game. LA is 32-45-2 ATS and the total is 41-37-1 this season.
Guard Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He is third in the league in scoring. Center Dwight Howard averages 16.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game. He leads the league in rebounds. Forward Pau Gasol averages 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. Small forward Metta World Peace returned to the line-up Tuesday less than 2 weeks after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. He was originally expected to be out until at least early May. World Peace is averaging 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Point guard Steve Nash is expected to miss his sixth game in a row with a hip injury. Nash averages 12.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Antawn Jamison, Earl Clark, Jodie Meeks, and Steve Blake make up the rest of the rotation. Jamison is probable with a wrist injury. Devin Ebanks is questionable with a lung injury. Center Jordan Hill is out for the season with a hip injury.
Golden State is 5-0 ATS after a straight up loss, and a double digit home loss, 4-0 after a loss by 10 points or more, 4-1 after failing to cover, 7-16 when the opponent allowed 100 points or more, 7-19 against teams with winning records, 3-11 in road games, 2-9 against teams with winning home records, and 0-4 in Friday games. The over is 5-2 in this series recently.
Los Angeles is 3-0-1 ATS after scoring 100 points or more, 18-37 when the opponent allows 100 points or more, 19-41-1 after a straight up win, 3-7-1 overall, 14-37-2 after a cover, 1-3-1 in Friday games, 2-6-1 against teams with winning records, 2-7 against Pacific Division teams, and 1-5 after allowing 100 points or more. The favorite has covered the last 4 in this series.
Neither of these teams are good on defense, but they score with any team in league. This should be an up and down game. Kobe Bryant has been even more super human recently playing around 45 minutes or more a game as he tries to will the Lakers into the playoffs. I like the Lakers to win, but 7.5 seems like a lot of points. We all know how this game plays out. The Warriors will keep it close and perhaps even lead. Then Kobe takes over, and the Lakers pull it out at the end.
Our NBA handicappers are red hot as the playoffs approach. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
