Two of the NBA’s hottest groups coming into the All-Star break hope the week off hasn’t stalled their momentum as they go head-to-head Thursday evening when the Los Angeles Lakers go to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
The Lakers, although, can be lacking LeBron James as a result of a lingering left ankle harm.
The California rivals start the second half clinging to the ninth and tenth positions within the NBA playoff race, spots that will grant entry into the play-in occasion.
The Lakers solidified their standing by successful their previous three video games following a loss to the Nuggets. Additionally they had received three straight earlier than the Denver sport.
Los Angeles was final seen prevailing 138-122 at Utah on Feb. 14, doing so with out James. The 39-year-old famous person returned for Sunday’s All-Star Sport however made himself out there for simply 14 minutes because of the ankle ailment.
The Lakers introduced on Wednesday that James would sit out the Golden State sport. His standing for Los Angeles’ Friday house sport towards the San Antonio Spurs and Sunday highway sport towards the Phoenix Suns was unsure.
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“Crucial factor for me is certainly my well being, the place I’m at proper now, the place our workforce is leaning,” James stated over the break. “We’re trending in the fitting route. Clearly, with our Laker workforce, it’s been about well being all 12 months. Making an attempt to do what’s greatest for me for the betterment of the workforce.”
James appeared loads wholesome when the Lakers pulled out a 145-144 double-overtime highway win towards the Warriors on Jan. 27. He complemented 12 assists with 36 factors and a career-high 20 rebounds, enjoying 48 of the 58 minutes.
The Warriors rebounded properly from the defeat, successful eight of 10 earlier than the break. Their solely losses through the run have been one other time beyond regulation affair at Atlanta and a house defeat by the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers after blowing a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead.
All-Star Weekend viewers noticed Golden State star Stephen Curry placed on a stunning 3-point-shooting show in his showdown with WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu. However that was nothing new to Warriors followers, who noticed him make seven or extra treys in seven of his final 11 video games earlier than heading to Indianapolis.
He bombed in 9 3-pointers to account for a majority of his game-high 46 factors in final month’s loss to the Lakers to start his current flurry.
Curry obtained loads of assist when the Warriors — because the Lakers had carried out the evening earlier than — received their remaining pre-break sport at Utah on Feb. 15. Coming off the bench for the primary time since 2012, Klay Thompson burned the Jazz for 35 factors.
Afterward, Curry admitted he wasn’t shocked by his longtime teammate’s efficiency.
“I believe the pure evolution of all of our careers is attempting to determine easy methods to proceed to win, nevertheless it may look somewhat totally different,” he stated. “The best way that he responded is the Klay Thompson that I do know — the true competitor, the true dawg. He obtained (indignant) and stated, ‘Watch this.’ I believe a variety of it’s simply realizing who he’s.”
With playoff positioning prone to be on the road, the golf equipment will meet two extra occasions this season — March 16 and April 9, each in Los Angeles.