The NBA Cup pool games commence on Saturday, with a total of ten games being played including the Lakers against Golden State.
LA Lakers @ Golden State Warriors
Could we be seeing a rivalry emerge? There were plenty of words exchanged between rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic when they met earlier in the season, and the rookie has proven to be a legit NBA player off the back of it.
We've seen Luka respond to this type of trash talk by producing some monster games. Just ask Devin Booker and the Suns.
Will we see Luka take vengeance, or will this rookie have the last laugh and prove himself on the big stage?
Same Game Multi
Leg 1 - Luka Doncic 30+ Points
The bear has been poked. Luka will be super-keen to go head-to-head with Lendeborg, with the Golden State rookie doubling down on his in-game trash talk to the media after his first NBA game.
Luka had 23 points at half-time against the Warriors but finished with just 28 for the game, as it was a complete blowout during the third and he wasn't required to play the fourth.
With this being the NBA Cup and points difference being important, expect more than 30 minutes from him in this.
Leg 2 - Yaxel Lendeborg 6+ Rebounds
On the flipside, Yaxel Lendeborg talked the talk and has walked the walk, emerging as a serious Rookie of the Year candidate.
Since his debut against the Lakers, Lendeborg has been huge, averaging 10.8 rebounds in his last four games and hitting 6+ on all four occasions, including double digits twice.
The $3.70 for a Yaxel double double is a nice price.
Leg 3 - LA Lakers Win
The Warriors have been better the last couple of games. They smashed the Nuggets, who are going through their own growing pains, and they beat the Timberwolves minus Ant last start.
But the Lakers absolutely dismantled them in their season opener, and it's hard to see how Golden State can recover from their 22-point loss last time.
Thybulle will go to Steph Curry, which is a big win for the Lakers, while Golden State doesn't really have anyone to contain both Reaves and Doncic. In their season opener it was Walker Kessler finishing with 26 points.
In a game that matters more than usual, the Lakers will be too good.
Doncic 30+ Points / Lendeborg 6+ Rebounds / Lakers Win @ $3.10
Value Bet
Matisse Thybulle 3+ 3PM @ $5.25
What an acquisition Thybulle has been, in a system where he is required to defend the best guard of the opposing team, space the floor and shoot when open.
To his credit, Thybulle's shooting has improved dramatically over the off-season, going from a 39.8% three-point shooter on 3.1 attempts per game to a 50% shooter from deep on 4.8 attempts in a small sample this season.
Thybulle has hit 3+ triples in three of his last four games, and he'll continue to benefit as long as he's playing with Luka Doncic.
