It’s back to the real world for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors as these Pacific division rivals go at each other this Friday at Chase Center in San Francisco. Will the Lakers take down Golden State again? Or, will the Warriors even hit back hard at LA and score a win?

Catch this game live on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11 AM, Manila time

Away: Los Angeles Lakers (30-26/11-17 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• D’Angelo Russell
• Austin Reaves
• Taurean Prince
• Rui Hachimura
• Anthony Davis

The Lakers barged into the All-Star Break feeling good. Before the festivities in Hoosier State, Los Angeles won three games in a row and six of its last seven games. That’s the kind of momentum LeBron James and company are looking to sustain when they come right out of the gate of the second half of the season this Friday against the Warriors. 

The Lakers have also defeated Golden State in the first and only meeting so far between these teams this season, with LeBron James negating Stephen Curry’s offensive outburst with an old-man triple-double of 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 145-144 double-overtime win in San Francisco. However, LeBron(ankle) has been ruled out of this rematch, so Taurean Prince might see a spot start in lieu of the four-time MVP.

It is also worth noting that the Lakers have a good streak going for them in this head-to-head matchup. They have won all of their last four regular-season meetings with the Warriors and also covered the spread in each of those contests.

Home: Golden State Warriors (27-26/14-4 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• Stephen Curry
• Brandin Podziemski
• Andrew Wiggins
• Jonathan Kuminga
• Draymond Green

Like the Lakers, Golden State also found its stride in the lead-up to the All-Star Break. Since the aforementioned loss to Los Angeles in January, the Warriors have posted an 8-2 straight-up record and an 8-2 slate against the spread. Steve Kerr’s bold decision to move Klay Thompson to the bench paid dividends right away, with Thompson going off for 35 points in the Warriors’ 140-137 road win over the Utah Jazz to close out their season’s first-half schedule. 

With Thompson embracing a bench role, things could look different this time around in the rematch versus the Lakers, but what’s continued to be expected is another brilliant showing from Curry. The two-time league Most Valuable Player dropped 46 points with nine 3-pointers in that Lakers game. The Warriors also have a 9.8 net rating in the last 10 games, the fourth-best in the NBA in that span.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Lakers (+6.0) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (241.5) hits the Under.