Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions for Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic are back in the spotlight Wednesday, but the teams around them look quite different. Golden State visits the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, with tipoff at 10:00 pm ET on ESPN. Los Angeles finished 53-29 last season and fourth in the West before Oklahoma City swept it in the conference semifinals. Golden State went 37-45 and placed 10th, with its season ending in the Play-In Tournament. The Warriors went 4-1 in the preseason, compared with 2-3 for the Lakers. Both clubs have something to prove after their disappointing exits. Cash in big with our free NBA picks.
Golden State Warriors Waiting to Get Healthy
The Warriors aren't ready to move on from Curry and Draymond Green. Steve Kerr signed another deal to coach them, and the plan is to give this group another shot. Health is the problem right now. Curry missed time last season, while Jimmy Butler III is still working his way back from knee surgery. Kristaps Porzingis is unavailable for the opener as well. Curry and Porzingis shared the floor in only five games last season, including the Play-In Tournament. Golden State hasn't had much of a chance to see how those pieces fit together.
That leaves Brandin Podziemski with an opportunity to take on more of the scoring. He averaged 13.8 points last season and didn't miss a game. After March 2, he scored at least 20 points in half his remaining outings. Podziemski also finished behind only Curry on the team in total points and made three-pointers. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg gives the Warriors another option after earning Summer League MVP honors. Georges Niang and Brandon Williams are new additions. With Butler and Porzingis out, Kerr will need the younger players to give Curry some help.
Injuries: Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler III and Kristaps Porzingis are out.
Los Angeles Lakers Begin a New Chapter
For the first time in years, the Lakers are moving forward without LeBron James. It feels like a major change, but Los Angeles isn't starting from scratch. Doncic won the scoring title last season, and Austin Reaves has grown into a dependable second option. Together they averaged 56.8 points per game, and the Lakers won 30 of the 41 games both played. The rest of the rotation is almost completely different. Only eight players returned, accounting for just 42% of last season's minutes. JJ Redick has plenty of decisions to make.
Reaves earned his larger role after averaging a career-high 23.3 points and signing a new contract. The Lakers also needed help inside, bringing in Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili after losing several frontcourt players. Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy provide more choices in the backcourt. Last season, Los Angeles finished 22nd in pace and 23rd in made three-pointers. The newcomers give Doncic more players to pass to, but they'll need time together. That's a big question for a team hoping to get further than last spring.
Injuries: Jarred Vanderbilt, Cameron Carr, Collin Sexton and Adou Thiero are game-time decisions.
Key To The Game
Golden State needs its younger players to ease the load on Curry while Butler and Porzingis are sidelined. Doncic and Reaves give Los Angeles a dependable starting point. The Warriors must find enough scoring outside of Curry to stay close.
Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Pick
- Los Angeles Lakers -5.5
Curry can still cause problems for any defense, but Golden State will open the season without Butler and Porzingis. That puts more pressure on Podziemski and the younger players. Los Angeles has its own adjustments to make, yet Doncic and Reaves already know how to work together. The pair averaged 56.8 points last season, giving the Lakers a source of scoring. Los Angeles should cover the 5.5-point spread at home.
Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Over/Under Pick
- Under 233.5
Both teams enter the opener with uncertainty. Golden State is missing Butler and Porzingis, leaving Curry to carry more of the scoring. Los Angeles has Doncic and Reaves, but much of the supporting cast is new and may need time to settle in. The Lakers also played at a slower pace last season. A total of 233.5 feels high for this matchup, making the under the better play on Wednesday.