The Los Angeles Lakers will begin their 2025-26 NBA season on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, hosting the Golden State Warriors. The long-standing Pacific Division rivalry has plenty of intrigue, but Los Angeles opens the year without one of its biggest stars. LeBron James has been ruled out due to sciatica, forcing the team to adapt on Opening Night. Oddsmakers and sportsbooks accepting EcoPayz payments list the Warriors as 2-point favorites with the over/under set at 225.5 points.
This will be the first time in James’s 23-year NBA career that he has missed a season opener. According to the team’s medical update, the four-time MVP continues to recover from a sciatic nerve issue affecting his right side. The Lakers announced earlier in October that he would be re-evaluated after three to four weeks, placing his likely return sometime around mid-November. Without James, Los Angeles struggled during the preseason, finishing 1-4 as they experimented with lineups led by Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton.
Odds and Betting Insights
Despite the Warriors entering as slight favorites, Tuesday’s contest is projected to stay close. The clever play is the Lakers to cover (+2) and the under (225.5) as both teams leaned toward lower totals last season—the predicted final: Lakers 112, Warriors 111.
2024-25, both teams hit the over in 41 of 82 games. Their combined scoring average of 227.2 points was slightly above this game’s total, but both clubs also tightened defensively late in the season. Their combined defensive average of 222.7 points per game suggests Tuesday’s line is right on target for a game that could hinge on execution in the final minutes.
Golden State’s Recent Form
The Warriors finished last season 41-38-3 against the spread while averaging 113.8 points per game. They were at their best when surpassing 112 points, winning 37 times. Away from Chase Center, they posted a more balanced ATS record, covering 23 of 41 games. Golden State’s three-point shooting remains its identity, headlined by Stephen Curry, who averaged 24.5 points and six assists last season on 39.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Golden State’s roster depth shifted slightly in the offseason. The addition of Buddy Hield gives the team another perimeter threat, while Draymond Green returns to anchor the defense. Jimmy Butler III and Brandin Podziemski round out a versatile lineup that mixes elite shot-making and switchable defense.
New Era for the Lakers
This season marks the first full year of the Luka Dončić era in Los Angeles after last February’s blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić’s arrival transformed the Lakers’ offensive core, giving them one of the NBA’s most creative lead guards. He now steps into an even larger leadership role with James sidelined.
The Lakers’ revamped starting five features Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, and Deandre Ayton. Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and rookie Adou Thiero bring energy and depth off the bench. New head coach JJ Redick begins his second campaign guiding an offense built around Dončić’s pace and Ayton’s interior presence.
During the preseason, Los Angeles showed flashes of its potential but stumbled late in games without James’s stabilizing influence, finishing 1-4. The offensive burden now falls on Dončić to dictate tempo while Reaves and Hachimura look to maintain consistency.
Home-Court Edge
Los Angeles enjoyed a notable advantage at Crypto.com Arena last season, covering 27 times in 41 home games while winning 24 of 31 outright as favorites. The Lakers averaged 113.4 points per contest on 47.9 percent shooting — a mark slightly better than Golden State’s defensive field goal percentage allowed. Though missing James affects scoring efficiency, the addition of Ayton provides a reliable interior outlet, and Smart’s defensive toughness ensures continued intensity.
Defensively, Los Angeles will aim to slow Golden State’s transition attack and effectively guard the perimeter. Expect slower possessions early as Doncic methodically orchestrates the half-court offense. The Lakers will focus on controlling rebounds and limiting turnovers — two areas that plagued them during last postseason’s first-round exit.
Adjusting Without LeBron
LeBron James’s absence is the defining storyline in Opening Night. Diagnosed with sciatica in early October, the 40-year-old superstar continues to recover from irritation of the sciatic nerve in his lower back and right leg. The condition sidelined him for all five preseason games, during which the Lakers went 1-4.
Team officials announced that James will be re-evaluated in late October, with mid-November viewed as a realistic return target. According to reports, the injury stems from nerve irritation during offseason workouts in July. Head coach JJ Redick has emphasized caution, insisting that James’s health is the priority.
At 40, James remains a key piece of the franchise, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season. His absence leaves a leadership gap that Dončić and Smart must fill on both ends of the floor. The Lakers have stressed that James will remain active in film sessions and team huddles even while sidelined, helping guide a roster that blends youth with veteran poise.
What to Watch
Without LeBron on the floor, the Lakers’ ball movement and chemistry will be under the microscope. Luka Dončić’s usage rate is expected to rise significantly, and his playmaking will determine how well Los Angeles can generate efficient offense against Golden State’s switching defense. Austin Reaves’ hot shooting and Ayton’s rim protection will be critical in maintaining balance.
For Golden State, Curry remains the driving force. The Warriors will look to push tempo and test Los Angeles’ transition defense early. With both teams aiming to sharpen rotations, early-season matchups like this often reveal depth and discipline more than flash. Even with James absent, Opening Night at Crypto.com Arena promises energy and excitement. The Lakers may be short-handed, but the stage offers the perfect opportunity for Luka Dončić to usher in a new era in Los Angeles basketball officially.
