The Lakers come in with a busier schedule. They played Golden State at Chase Center on Friday in their own NBA Cup opener and host Toronto on Sunday. That makes Monday the 2nd night of a back-to-back, and both of those results will shape this game before tipoff. No betting board is posted for this one yet. It opens once Miami is the next game on both schedules.
Luka Dončić is the reason LA was 4-1 heading into the Warriors game. He was leading the league at 36.0 points per game through 4 games, including 52 against Utah, 41 against Portland and 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 127-105 opening-night win over Golden State. He also sat out the 103-87 win over the Clippers with back tightness. JJ Redick called it precautionary, and Dončić was left off the injury report for Friday's game. Still, a back that tightened up a week ago and a back-to-back on Sunday and Monday is worth keeping an eye on.
Clippers103-87
Clippers125-117The rest of LA's injury list is mostly depth. Ziaire Williams has been dealing with a left foot and heel issue, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr have been ruled out, and Walker Kessler is playing with a splint on his left finger. Kessler matters most for this matchup. He's the big man who has to deal with Antetokounmpo attacking the rim and Adebayo working the elbows, and a center playing with a hurt hand against that frontcourt could be in for a long night.
The basketball question is simple. Miami's 145-point win over a short-handed Indiana team doesn't prove much, but the Antetokounmpo-Adebayo partnership has finally started producing. The Lakers have the best scorer in the league right now and a home crowd. They'll also have played 2 games in 4 days by the time Miami shows up. Tipoff at crypto.com Arena is 7:00 PM PT.