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Undefeated Warriors host lowly Lakers Tuesday
By: Brian Graham - StatFox
Published: 11/24/2015  at  1:25:00 PM
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LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2-11)

at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (15-0)

Tip-off: Tuesday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -17.5, Total: 213

The Warriors try to set an NBA record for the best start to a season on Tuesday night when they host the heavy underdog Lakers.

Golden State's 15-0 mark ties the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the best start in NBA history and the oddsmakers expect the team to set a new record as nearly 20-point favorites in this matchup. Los Angeles has dropped seven of the past eight games during a stretch where it has scored 100 points only once. The Lakers are a dismal 4-9 ATS overall, but are a nearly even 3-4 ATS on the road, while the Warriors are a stellar 10-5 ATS overall, but only 4-4 ATS at home. Golden State has won five of the past six meetings SU between these clubs, but Los Angeles has covered in two straight matchups, which included a 115-105 SU home win last Dec. 23 as a 10-point underdog. There are plenty of betting trends for both teams on Tuesday night, as the Lakers are 27-13 ATS on the road after allowing triple-digits in 2+ straight games in the past three seasons and 61-35 ATS on the road after making 85%+ FT since 1996. The Warriors are 23-11 ATS after two straight ATS wins as a favorite in the past two seasons, and 29-16 ATS versus good foul-shooting teams (76%+ FT) in this same timeframe. The only current injury for either team is L.A. rookie PG D'Angelo Russell (ankle), who is likely to suit up on Tuesday night.

Can the Warriors stay undefeated on Tuesday and cover the enormous spread? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2015-16 season.

Los Angeles has struggled in nearly all facets this season with only 98.2 PPG on 41.3% FG and 32.5% threes, and in the past five games, the team has managed just 92.8 PPG on 40.5% FG. The defense hasn't been very effective either in surrendering 105.4 PPG on 44.3% FG, but has held long-range shooters to a weak 32.6% clip from behind the three-point arc. In two division games, the squad has surrendered a ridiculous 126.0 PPG on 50.0% FG. The offense is more balanced than usual with SF Kobe Bryant averaging 16.3 PPG and PG Jordan Clarkson close behind with 15.8 PPG. But while Bryant is making just 33% FG and 20% threes, Clarkson is draining 49% of his shots, including 46% from three-point range. Like Bryant, SG Louis Williams is also struggling to make baskets at clips of 33% FG and 24% threes. PF Julius Randle has connected on just 42% from the field, leading to a pedestrian 11.2 PPG and 8.8 RPG this season. High-priced free agent C Roy Hibbert has also disappointed offensively with 9.1 PPG, but has added 6.8 RPG and 2.4 BPG in his 26.6 MPG. Rookie PG D'Angelo Russell has played better offensively in the past three weeks with 14.3 PPG and 6.0 RPG and will try to extend his double-digit-point streak to four on Tuesday night.

Golden State doesn't really have a weakness, as the offense compiles a whopping 114.5 PPG on 48.7% FG and 41.6% threes, while also draining 76.8% of its free throws. Not once have the Warriors been held to less than 100 points during their amazing 15-0 start to the year. Despite the fast pace and offensive prowess, the defense has remained tough in limiting opponents to just 100.1 PPG on 42.7% FG and 29.7% threes. But in the past two meetings in this series, the Lakers have earned ATS victories by draining a hefty 20-of-41 threes (49%). Speaking of knocking down shots, PG Stephen Curry is averaging a league-high 32.7 PPG thanks to an incredible 51% FG clip and 44% threes. Although Curry failed to reach 20 points for the first time this season on Sunday, he still scored 19 points in just 28 minutes. His backcourt mate, SG Klay Thompson is starting to heat up in his past three contests with 20.3 PPG on 48% FG and 9-of-16 threes (56%). SF Draymond Green continues to fill up the stat sheet with 12.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.3 BPG and 1.2 SPG this season, and in his past five contests, Green is scoring 13.2 PPG on 52% FG and 43% threes (9-of-21). But he has also committed 4+ fouls in four of those five games, and will need to stay on the court and out of foul trouble on Tuesday to help his team reach a new NBA milestone for wins to start the season.


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