After teaming up for the All-Star Game last week, LeBron James and Steph Curry are back on opposing sides as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors face each other in San Francisco. Catch the game live tomorrow at 10:30 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
The Lakers are seeking to reclaim the second spot after the Phoenix Suns overtook them in the standings. However, things may be a bit tougher for the crew considering the absences that the team has to deal with.
With Anthony Davis still out, Alex Caruso and Jared Dudley are also sidelined due to injuries, while Kostas Antetokounmpo and Marc Gasol will not be available due to health and safety protocols.
Kyle Kuzma has been playing well, leading the Lakers against the Indiana Pacers with 24 points and 13 rebounds, including a crucial shot from beyond the arc that secured the win. In his last four games, Kuzma delivered in double figures from the rebounding end. He is currently averaging 11.8 points and a career-high 6.8 rebounds, which definitely helps the AD-less Lakers.
Golden State, on the other hand, is still trying to find consistency. The Warriors have lost games against the Clippers, Suns, and Lakers, but won against the league-leading Utah Jazz.
While Steph Curry has been a consistent firepower, his entire crew have yet to find their sweet spot. The team has been so dependent on Curry who practically controls the whole game. If he plays well, the team wins. If he doesn’t, they don’t. As simple as that.
Against the Jazz, Steph dropped 32 points to give them the win. But against the Clippers, Steph had a quiet 14-point outing as the Warriors took a 26-point beating.
The problem isn’t even about individual scoring. Against the Jazz, they had five guys who finished in double-digits, and against the Clippers, they had seven.
The Warriors just really need to figure out how to avoid giving up too many baskets that cause them to fall behind by a wide margin against strong teams -- something that the Lakers will definitely capitalize on.
The Lakers head to San Francisco without AD, Caruso, and Gasol for their game against the Warriors.
