A place in the Summer League final awaits the winner of old rivals the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas.
The Lakers have gone 4-0 over the past week or so with the Warriors 3-1 and any match between these sides, however modest the stakes, will be a hard-fought affair.
The winner will face the winner of the Houston Rockets versus the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Warriors vs. Lakers Prediction, Props and Best Bets
Los Angeles Lakers ML (-115)
The Lakers have not put a foot wrong in Vegas and should be trusted to go 5-0 by seeing off the Warriors in this Summer League semifinal.
While these games are always tough to call - no big names and coaches keen to rotate - it's hard not to be impressed by the Lakers players who are looking to impress.
It isn't just the fact that they have won four on the spin - it's the emphatic manner in which they have done it.
They went 2-1 in the California Classic prior to Vegas and have gone on to beat Oklahoma City Thunder 96-84, the Mavs 91-70, the Clippers 99-85 and Chicago 105-82.
That one loss in seven - back in California two weeks ago - was against the Warriors and they simply couldn't keep pace with them.
However, they shot a fairly abject 38 per cent from the floor while the Warriors were shooting at 62 per cent, so no surprise the Dubs stormed to a 104-72 success.
But last time out against the Bulls the Lakers were shooting 49 per cent with six players scoring 11 points or more.
Adou Thiero has hit double figures each time he has suited up in Vegas, Chris Manon leads a defense unrecognisable from that Warriors blowout and they look well set for this.
The Warriors have had the one loss in four since going to Vegas - a 106-85 defeat by the Grizzlies - but last time out star pick Yaxel Lendeborg had a quiet night (3 points) in a patchy success over the Knicks.
There's a lot to like about the players Golden State have been using in the Summer League - LJ Cryer has been outstanding - and clearly they can be encouraged by having beaten the Lakers already this summer.
But the Lakers look set now, better at both ends and can see their way into Sunday's final.
Under 180.5 Points (-110)
The defenses were on top in the Warriors' last game against the Knicks, a match the Dubs won 87-77.
And there were only 176 points scored when the Warriors and Lakers met two weeks ago - despite Golden State hitting three figures.
It's been a busy week sorting out defenses which are improving so maybe don't expect the points total to clamber past 180.5. It's -110 they don't and that looks the play.
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Warriors vs. Lakers odds
Warriors | -110 |
Lakers | -110 |
Spread | Lakers -1.5 |
Total Points | O/U 180.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
