Western Conference heavyweights Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers headline the Christmas/Boxing Day action in the 2024-25 NBA season with their meeting at the Chase Center on Thursday.
Both teams suffered disappointing home defeats in their respective most recent outings, but only one of them will be able to get back to winning ways here at the expense of the other, who would have their festive spirit further dampened by a second straight loss.
Match preview
The Golden State Warriors saw their torrid run of form continue as they fell to a 105-111 defeat against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, 48 hours after snapping a run of three consecutive defeats by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-103.
Despite recording their second highest-scoring first half in the last 12 games, Steve Kerr's men had an eight-point deficit to make up heading into the interval and managed to halve that in the third quarter, before their comeback attempt was nipped in the bud down the stretch.
Jonathan Kuminga tallied his highest points off the bench this term with 26 to lead the scoring for the Warriors, who could really have done with Steph Curry not having another rough night offensively, as the guard managed just 10 points on 2-13 shooting.
A run of 10 defeats from 13 matches over the last 30 days has seen the Warriors plummet to a 15-13 record to sit eighth in the Western Conference standings, just below their next opponents having played a game fewer.
Games between the Warriors and the Lakers have often served up fireworks on many occasions, with the four competitive meetings in 2024 yielding an average of 257.5 points, thanks in no small part to January's 145-144 thriller.
Thursday's hosts have won each of the subsequent three league encounters, as well as one Summer League clash and two pre-season matchups, which should give them huge confidence that they can emerge victorious here.
Aiming to win four games on the bounce for the first time since their six-game winning streak in November, the Los Angeles Lakers were left red-faced at the Crypto.com Arena following a 114-117 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
JJ Redick's men recovered from a slender first-quarter deficit to go into half time narrowly ahead before losing each of the subsequent two quarters en route to only a third defeat in front of their fans so far.
Still going strong just six days shy of his 40th birthday, LeBron James tallied 28 points on 10-16 shooting from the field to go along with 11 rebounds and assists apiece for an eighth triple-double of the season.
Having split their 10 games in December into five wins and as many defeats, the Lakers are in need of some consistency as they look to pull away in the race for playoff contention, currently trailing city rivals Los Angeles Clippers in sixth place.
In what is set to be their final road involvement of 2024, Thursday's visitors will be looking to win a third straight away game before wrapping up the year with home matches against the Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Team News
Thirty-two-year-old Gary Payton II is the Warriors' only injury concern for this one after he missed his side's defeat to the Pacers due to a calf issue.
Draymond Green and Moses Moody shook off injury concerns in time to play a part in the aforementioned game, and both men will be expected to feature on Thursday as well.
Jarred Vanderbilt is a guaranteed absentee here after suffering a setback in his return from a knee problem and will not be available to suit up for the Lakers until early January.
Jaxson Hayes (ankle) and Christian Wood (knee) are also unavailable for the visitors, although both men are closing in on returning to action as early as next week.
Jalen Hood-Schifino is currently nursing a hamstring problem and is a major doubt alongside D'Angelo Russell, who may be unable to lock horns against his former employers having come off with a hand injury against the Pistons.
Golden State Warriors possible starting five:
Schroder, Curry; Wiggins, Green; Jackson-Davis
Los Angeles Lakers possible starting five:
Christie, Reaves; James, Hachimura; Davis
We say: Warriors to win by 4+ points
Both teams know a victory here could be the catalyst for embarking on a winning streak, so we expect them to be fully for the challenge.
That said, we can see the Warriors doing enough to see off the Lakers and hand their fans a Christmas present.
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