Going into the semifinals, the Golden State Warriors were heavily favored to win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Steph Curry and the reigning champions are looking to repeat their championship run and are looking to get past LeBron James and the Lakers. However, L.A. managed to steal game 1 as they lead the series, 1-0. But, can they continue this momentum? Here are my own picks in game 2 of the Warriors vs Lakers semifinal matchup, which includes odds and predictions going into their outing.
Warriors vs Lakers Game 2 Odds and Predictions
It’s obvious that the odds are in favor of the Warriors as we enter the semifinal round. However, the Lakers aren’t going out without a fight. In what could be the final battle between the rivalry of LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who could be taking game 2? Further, who is probably going to advance to the Conference Finals?
STEPH VS. LEBRON. WARRIORS VS. LAKERS.
This is going to be fun 🍿👀 pic.twitter.com/iu2VpGktew
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2023
Game 2 Odds:
| Spread | Moneyline | |
| Golden State Warriors | -5.5 (-110) | -230 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +5.5 (-110) | +195 |
Golden State has a 5.5 advantage over Los Angeles, which is a pretty big difference even with the latter taking game 1. That could be because the Warriors will be playing at home in game 2. For information, they are the worst performers on the road but are exceptional during home games. Their game 1 loss against the Lakers is only one out of their eight losses in road games this season.
Game 2 Predictions:
The Golden State Warriors will win if:
- If Steph Curry explodes for another monstrous performance, it’s going to be a tough task for Jared Vanderbilt, D’Angelo Russell, or anybody who guards him.
- Kevon Looney has been very reliable thus far. He is a tenacious rebounder and they would need that in game 2. Looney and Draymond Green need to stop Anthony Davis or at least hold him to less than 20 points. They failed to do so in game 1, but hopefully, they succeed in the upcoming games.
- Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins have to be consistent throughout the series. They were all electric in game 1 and the Warriors couldn’t afford for at least one of them to zone out, especially Jordan Poole.
- In the final minutes of game 1, while they were down huge, the Golden State Warriors made a 14-0 run to get back on track. Time and time again, they have proven that their transition runs – most of the time – destroy their opponents. Indeed, they almost defeated the Lakers in game 1, but couldn’t hack it in the final seconds.
The Los Angeles Lakers will win if:
- Anthony Davis continues to be dominant on both ends of the floor. But, knowing about his injury history, it’s hard to rely on AD to be consistent on a 7-game series.
- LeBron James may have been great in the 2023 playoffs, but he struggled to make his shots. He is now 6-42 in three-point attempts in the playoffs. Further, his free throws are off. LeBron really needs to hit those jumpers in game 2.
- As much as possible, stop the Warriors in transition. As mentioned, the Warriors are unstoppable during the transition. They have mastered this technique and only a few can stop them from getting their momentum.
- The whole Lakers team also needs to make their shots. In game 1, they only made 6 out of 25 three-point attempts (that’s only 24%). Although they were awarded 29 free throws (and made 25 of them), they couldn’t rely on that to happen again in the next games.
Where can I watch game 2 of the Warriors vs Lakers semifinal matchup?
The Golden State Warriors will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers for game 2 in the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. The match will be on Thursday, May 4 at 9 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time). To watch the classic rivalry meeting between LeBron James and Steph Curry at home, stream via the ESPN TV Channel or the ESPN Mobile App.
Do you think the Golden State Warriors can tie up the series in game 2? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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