The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Golden State Warriors in a pivotal Western Conference matchup on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. Each team would love to get this important, critical, tremendously huge win. With playoff positioning on the line, this victory would do massive wonders for their dream of performing in the postseason.
As the Lakers come the matchup with plenty of momentum themselves, coming off a big 104-98 win over the Houston Rockets. This massive win has certainly pumped their confidence as they look forward to locking horns with a very strong Warriors team. Those terms—the teams are just two games apart in the table. This adds additional importance to the game for each franchise.
The Warriors have proven themselves to be a powerhouse in close contests. Their all-time mark in games decided by three or fewer points is 6-5. The Lakers have sputtered in such scenarios. In fact, they have a 4-6 record in games decided by three points or less. This stat might end up being the deciding factor in who wins Thursday’s matchup.
The historical division dominance of the Lakers against their division opponents. The Warriors have continued their poor luck against teams in their own division. That’s a serious threat to their chances of winning on Thursday. With the recent addition of Jimmy Butler III, the Warriors’ energy has been sparked. His presence is no small factor powering their massive exciting late-season surge.
In the current postseason, superstar and two-time MVP Stephen Curry has been leading the charge for the Warriors. He recently put on a transcendent performance, scoring 52 points in a dazzling upset 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. With his deadly shooting from deep threes and ability to generate his own shot, he’ll make or break this matchup alongside Dumont. For the Lakers, the trio of LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic will look to counter Curry’s offensive firepower and establish control on their home court.
It’s a potential firework factory of a matchup, as both teams have proven to be explosive on offense with the deep ball and with dramatic finishes. With so much on the line, fans should expect an exceptional energy level at Crypto.com Arena when these two rivals go head-to-head once again for postseason seeding.
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