Fresh off a 4-0 Eastern Conference road trip, the Warriors are back in the friendly confines of Oracle Arena on Wednesday to take on the Lakers. Golden State has the longest win streak in the NBA (eight in a row) and will look to get some revenge against the Lakers, who are responsible for one of their two losses on the season.
How to watch
When: Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Who: Los Angeles Lakers
Where: Oracle Arena in Oakland, California
TV: NBA League Pass
Streaming: NBA League Pass
Line: Warriors (-17)
What to watch for
Vengeance: The Lakers put quite the beating on the Warriors in early November, defeating Golden State 117-97. That was just a disastrous game by the Warriors as Stephen Curry's streak of hitting a three in every single game was snapped, while Klay Thompson shot a dismal 4 of 18 from the field. Golden State's defense was also horrendous and allowed the Lakers to drop 41 points in the second quarter.
Losing to the Lakers is likely an early regret for the Warriors. It was their first matchup against their former assistant coach Luke Walton and they lost in humiliating fashion. So look for Golden State to attack early and often and exact revenge on Walton and the Lakers. Plus there is this:
Short-handed and weary Lakers: Golden State being fired up already puts the Lakers at a disadvantage, but there are other factors that makes this matchup tough for Los Angeles.
D'Angelo Russell is nursing a sore left knee and is out against Warriors. This is a significant loss for the Lakers as Russell has been excelling in his second season. He is averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals. Russell is also shooting well, going 41.3 percent and 37.2 percent from three. He played a key role when the Lakers beat the Warriors in their first game, finishing with 17 points and four assists. Without Russell, the Lakers will give an expanded role to Jordan Clarkson and Jose Calderon will likely start.
Meanwhile, Julius Randle has a hip injury and said after the win vs. the Thunder Tuesday night that he could miss the game vs. the Warriors.
Besides for Russell being inactive, the Lakers, having played a tough game against the Thunder on Tuesday, are on the second night of a back-to-back. Fatigue could be an issue against the Warriors.
Improving defense: Draymond Green has loudly proclaimed that he wants to win Defensive Player of the Year and with Golden State continually improving on defense, his case keeps getting stronger.
Golden State is giving up 103.6 points per 100 possessions, but in the last four games, the Warriors have made strides defensively and are now holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting at the rim, which is one of the best marks in the league. Green and Durant are also doing a fine job as pseudo rim protectors as both players are in the top-25 among all players in blocks per game.
The Lakers, however, do have a potent offense (seventh best) and should be a nice test for the Warriors' ever-improving defense.
MATCHUPS
Lakers' perimeter defense vs. the Splash Brothers: Well, Jose Calderon is going to start with D'Angelo Russell out, so someone's going to feast. Even if the Lakers put the surprisingly-effective-this-season Nick Young on Stephen Curry, you're still talking about Randle (if he plays which is unlikely) or Larry Nance Jr. having to contain Curry coming off those picks, and then Calderon is guarding Klay Thompson.
There's just no way this ends well.
The Warriors' soft bench vs. Sweet Lou: Lou Williams is phenomenal this season. He's hitting shots, and he's always a master at drawing fouls. The Warriors' bench is highly suspect, so don't be shocked if the Lakers' bench unit makes a run with Williams giving Ian Clark or Shaun Livingston problems in isolation.
The Young-Durant vs. the Actual Durant: Kevin Durant has said Brandon Ingram is further along than he was at that age. And that's adorable. Really. But Ingram's going to have to cover K.D. for stretches, and that's not going to go well. Ingram is the Lakers' longest wing to throw at Durant and he's just not strong or experienced enough yet to contain him. Expect a big K.D. game.
PICK: Warriors. Warriors (-17) is an insanely high number, especially for a team that is 2-3 as a home favorite this season, but the Lakers are on a back to back, without Russell and could miss Randle. The Warriors are going to be mad, the way they always are when a team beats them, and won't let the Lakers sneak up on them like last time. They're at home, they're rested, the Lakers are banged up and on a back to back. Golden State rings it up by 25 or more.