The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors on Friday night to open NBA Cup group play, with the Lakers favored by 3.5 points and a total of 234.5.
The teams met on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles, where the Lakers won 127-105 behind 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Luka Doncic, who sat out the fourth quarter. Walker Kessler made his Lakers debut with a perfect 12-for-12 shooting for 26 points and nine rebounds, the second-most made field goals without a miss in franchise history. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 23 points, while rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 12 points and three rebounds.
Since then, Lendeborg has emerged as a standout. The 24-year-old No. 11 overall pick from Michigan is averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, and his Rookie of the Year odds have shortened from +2800 after the draft to +280, making him the second favorite behind Cameron Boozer (+240). He became the first rookie since Curry in 2010 to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game, achieving the feat in just his fifth career game. He also joined Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal as the only lottery-era rookies with 85 points and 35 rebounds in their first four games, and joined Victor Wembanyama as the only rookies since 1993 with 100 points and 40 rebounds in their first five games.
"His composure... he's a matchup problem," Curry said of Lendeborg. Coach Steve Kerr called the rookie's ability to slow the game down and create offense a "game-changer." Lendeborg's points-rebounds-assists prop for Friday is set at 29.5.
The Lakers have won four straight games in the series, including four straight at Chase Center. Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring at 36.0 points per game, will play after resting Wednesday. With Doncic in the lineup, the Lakers have scored at least 125 points in each of their first four games for the first time in franchise history. Doncic and Curry are tied 9-9 in regular-season head-to-head matchups.
In NBA Cup Group C, the San Antonio Spurs are -110 favorites to win the group, followed by the Lakers at +340 and the Warriors at +1400. To simply advance, the Lakers are +185 and the Warriors +650. The group also includes the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.
The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET as the second half of an NBA on Prime Video doubleheader.
