The Warriors break up a stretch of eight home games with a visit to southern California to battle the Lakers. The trip figures to be a minor nuisance for Golden State. The Dubs won the previous three games this season over their in-state rivals by an average of 24.3 points.
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SCHEDULING
The Warriors have a string of eight home games interrupted by a lone road contest, which comes Sunday at Staples Center against the Lakers. Following this matchup, Golden State plays its next six at Oracle Arena and won’t be leaving the state of California until a trip to Dallas on Mar. 18. Things line up well for the defending champs as they continue their quest to set a NBA record for wins in a season. The Warriors have dismantled the Lakers in the season series, winning all three games by an average of 24.3 points and covering the double-digit spread each time.
The Lakers will be spending plenty of time at home as well over the next few weeks as they continue an eight-game homestand by hosting the Warriors in the fourth and final game of the season series. Playing at Staples Center hasn’t necessarily been a good thing for the Lakers, though. A win over Brooklyn on Tuesday was just LA’s second at home in their last 10 outings. Though the Lakers have been blitzed in all three meetings with the champs this season, they have shown progress. LA’s margin of victory has gone from 34 in the first game, to 21 in the second, and finally 18 in the last meeting.
INJURIES
Stephen Curry sat out Tuesday’s game with a sore ankle and Andre Iguodala was shelved with a bum hamstring. The injuries aren’t considered serious, according to coach Steve Kerr, and the two were back in the lineup the next time out.
The Lakers lost guard Jordan Clarkson to a knee injury Wednesday in Denver and he’s listed as day-to-day. Shooting guard Lou Williams is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. Forward Larry Nance Jr. is expected to be in the lineup after missing a game due to knee soreness.
KEY MATCHUP
Amid a season that started off with fluctuating roles and frustration, Lakers forward Julius Randle could end the 2015-16 campaign writing a relatively happier ending. The Lakers are on the verge of setting a club record for defeats for a second straight season. But coach Byron Scott plans to keep Randle as the starter for the rest of the season after he lost the spot 20 games in. “He’s played well,” Scott said. So well that Randle posted 11 points and 15 rebounds against Brooklyn in what marked his 22nd double-double, which leads his sophomore class. Randle entered the week averaging 12.8 point and 11.8 rebounds since starting the past 13 games, and has progressed with his shot. Something that should make him more of a scoring option.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
We will get a chance to see if the Lakers are progressing as the NBA season winds down. They switched up the offense to play a more up-tempo style while featuring less isolation. That means seeing less Kobe Bryant on the floor. Bryant was the king of iso and wanted the ball at all times. Back in the day he could do something with it, not so much now. It’s time for Scott and the Lakers to see what Randle, D’Angelo Russell, and the other youngsters can do. The group is no match for the Warriors, though. The Lakers lost the first three this season by an average of nearly 25 points and haven’t been close. Don’t expect the Lakers to get a victory, but closing the gap and being more competitive is a step in the right direction.
Golden State 117, Los Angeles 105
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