And like that the NBA season is back! We start the 2025-26 season where we left off with the OKC Thunder hosting the Rockets, but our attention is with the later game where Luka Doncic’s Lakers face the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors @ LA Lakers
Golden State finished last season on fire, reaching the second-round of the playoffs before a Steph Curry injury changed their fortunes. As for the Lakers, they’re now in the Luka era, but they’ll need to start the 2025-26 season without LeBron James which is a big test for a roster which lacks depth.
Leg 1: Warriors H2H
Jimmy Butler’s addition to Golden State prior to last season’s trade period completely transformed the Warriors, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 23-7 record when Butler plays.
As for the Lakers, they enter the season without LeBron - obviously an important piece to their team, but it also means the likes of Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia need to have an impact. Although in LA, I think it will be too much of an ask.
Leg 2: Brandin Podziemski 10+ Points
Averaged 14.9 points per game from his last 34 games of the regular season for Golden State, hitting 10+ points in 25 of those 34 games.
Part of that end of season form for BPod was 28 points in his last game against the Lakers in April and with the Lakers still having defensive deficiencies in their back-court, the combo guard should get plenty of good looks.
Leg 3: Austin Reaves 20+ Points
Was a changed man without LeBron last season. Austin Reaves averaged 27.9 points per game in nine games without LBJ last season, hitting 20+ in seven of the nine games.
Reaves was the main guy in a handful of these games, but in five of the nine games he played second fiddle to Luka, he still managed to average 25 a game.
Same Game Multi
Warriors H2H / Podziemski 10+ Points / Reaves 20+ Points = $3.50
Value Leg: Jake LaRavia 4+ Rebounds
Sneaky good pick-up by the Lakers who have lacked bench depth for a while now. LaRavia had some good games at Memphis last season before being traded to the Kings, where he took some time fitting into their rotation before missing the last few weeks of the season.
Averaged 6.9 rebounds per 36 minutes last season, and although he’s only like to play around the low 20s, if he has an impact in his minutes he might take up some of Gabe Vincent’s time on the floor.
Warriors H2H / Podziemski 10+ Points / Reaves 20+ Points / LaRavia 4+ Rebounds = $8.50
