Lakers: Predictions for Week 5

With their Sunday night loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Lakers have two wins in 13 tries, slotting the team in last place in the Western Conference.

They’ll play three games through Week 5, with two on the road against the Golden State Warriors (15-0) and Trail Blazers (6-9), before a home game Sunday with the Indiana Pacers (8-5) visiting at Staples Center.

Through four weeks of play, the Lakers are two wins behind the cumulative prediction of 4-9.

Tuesday at Golden State Warriors

The Lakers can stop the Warriors’ quest for the best record to open a season in NBA history. The Warriors will reach that mark at 16-0, if they can get past the Lakers.

Odds are high, extremely high, that they will — but the game will be played and stranger things have happened.

Stephen Curry may not just win another NBA most valuable player award this season, but also most improved player, which seems like something that shouldn’t be possible, yet somehow is realistic given how well the guard has played.

Prediction: Warriors

Saturday at Portland Trail Blazers

The Lakers competed with the Blazers throughout most of the night on Sunday, falling apart over a key stretch in the fourth quarter.

Like the Lakers, the Blazers do not have significant bench support. While the Lakers may be able to steal one on the road, there’s no compelling reason to pick a different outcome.

Prediction: Blazers

Sunday vs. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, led by the play of forward Paul George — who has recovered from a broken leg that sidelined him for almost all of last year.

Indiana is a major offensive force, but it is very good defensively too. The Pacers are a challenge on a typical night, but even more so with the Lakers playing on the second of a back-to-back set.

The losing streak could grow to six by the end of Week 5.

Prediction: Pacers

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.