Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors have their backs against the wall, and they’ve shown themselves to be vulnerable in their own arena. Can they push the series to a Game 6?

Catch the game Thursday, May 11, at 10:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Los Angeles Lakers (3-1)

Projected starting five:

  • D’Angelo Russell
  • Austin Reaves
  • Jarred Vanderbilt
  • LeBron James
  • Anthony Davis

Lonnie Walker scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 to help the Lakers take the unlikely victory, but let’s be serious, he can’t be expected to do that again.

LeBron James will be expected to have a strong all-around game, but everything hinges on Anthony Davis. While AD started strong in the first half of Game 4 with 19 points, he no-showed in the second half and finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Any lack of offensive production from Davis will spell bad news for the Lakers.

Davis will need to use his size advantage to score more in the paint against the likes of Kevon Looney and Draymond Green, because they will use every trick in the book to try to stop him. If the Warriors are able to shut down AD for a full half again, the Lakers will have a bad day.

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HOME: Golden State Warriors (1-3)

Projected starting five:

  • Stephen Curry
  • Klay Thompson
  • Andrew Wiggins
  • Draymond Green
  • Kevon Looney

The Warriors’ hopes are on Steph Curry’s shoulders. Even though he had a triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, he was also involved in all of the plays the cost the Warriors the game. Curry was unable to score against Anthony Davis twice in the closing moments, and his final turnover prevented the Warriors from getting a game-tying attempt up.

The Warriors as a whole need to take much better care of the ball, because the Lakers have the tools to slow things down in a close game. However, the last time Curry played in an elimination game, he did drop 50 points on the Sacramento Kings in Game 7 of their first round series.

Curry’s teammates have to help him, though. Their second-highest scorer was Andrew Wiggins with 17 points, while Klay Thompson finished with a measly nine points.

Jordan Poole will likely be the X-Factor this game, because he’s got to prove that he’s worth that huge contract. He can’t play much worse than Game 4, where he went scoreless and missed all four shot attempts.

PREDICTION:

Handicap: The Warriors cover -7 and push it to a Game 6.

Over/Under: The total hits the under (225.5).

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