Warriors vs. Lakers: Team News And Betting Odds

Christmas is here! And with it comes probably the most anticipated clash of the season thus far, but for NBA fans – mainly the fans of the Golden State Warriors and LeBron James - it has become a norm in the last three seasons, when their two teams come up against each other on the most favorite holiday of the year.

The reigning back-to-back champions welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to the Oracle Arena on Tuesday night, in what will be the clash many are looking forward to when the calendar was unveiled earlier in the year. It is for the fourth year running that the Warriors will play a team led by James, but it’s the first time for him as a Laker as he was with the Cavaliers for the last three seasons.

The three-time NBA champion joined one NBA’s most storied franchises on a four-year deal this summer and is tasked with the challenge of ending the Warriors’ dominance in the Western Conference and the NBA where they have won three championships in four years.

The game between the Warriors and Lakers is living up to the hype and reports suggest that it could be the most expensive Christmas Day game ever with the lowest ticket price expected to sit at just under $900.

Team News

The Warriors look to be back in full strength and are likely to have Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as their starting four with either Kevon Looney or Andre Iguodala making the final pick.

The Lakers, however, have a major question mark over center JaVale McGee, who has been in hospital being treated for Pneumonia in the days leading up to the game. They are also without Tyson Chandler, which could leave Ivica Zubac filling the center role yet again.

Lonzo Ball, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram are likely to make the starting four for the Lakers as they look to upset the reigning champions.

The Lakers are not in their best form at the moment despite having climbed to fourth place in the Western Conference. They have lost four of their last six games with their most recent game coming at home to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have won four of their last six matches and recorded back-to-back wins in their last two games which included a nail-biting 129-127 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.

Betting Odds

According to Action Network – the spread -Warriors are -9. Over/Under: 234.5