Steph and LeBron square off another time as the Western Conference arms raced has reached a fever pitch.
The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight in what feels like watching the director’s cut of a movie where they’re still filming the sequel. With both teams’ newly acquired stars (Jimmy Butler and Luka Doncic) not yet available to suit up, and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined with injury, we’re about to witness basketball’s version of a bridge episode in your favorite TV show… except this bridge might actually be on fire.
For the Warriors, tonight represents Steph Curry’s first game without his longtime wing defender Andrew Wiggins – and no, the ghost of trades future (Jimmy) isn’t walking through that door yet. With Kuminga’s explosive athleticism also unavailable due to injury, Steve Kerr is looking at a thin rotation on the second night of a back to back.
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers
When: February 6th, 2024 | 7:00 PM PT
TV: TNT
Radio: 95.7 The Game
The Jimmy Butler to the Warriors trade is now official. He will wear #10. Latest word is that Saturday in Chicago is the likely night of his debut.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 7, 2025
Luka Dončić is targeting Monday against Utah for his Lakers debut, @TheSteinLine has learned.
He returned to 5-on-5 play in practice this week and is said to be progressing well in his ramp up from his left calf strain on Christmas.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/IIIlAloJCf pic.twitter.com/6yLu7Q1dKz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2025
Speaking of the Lakers, they enter their post AD-era looking rejuvenated, winners of their lat three games. And that’s not a great sign for the Dubs as this season the Lakers have treated the Warriors this season with cruelty. That Christmas Day 115-113 heartbreaker saw Steph drop 38 points in a loss that felt like getting coal in your stocking… if the coal was actually Austin Reave’s game-winner.
And last month the Lakers prevailed in the sequal sequel featuring AD’s masterpiece of 36 points. Thank goodness this giant agile big man is gone from LA!
But tonight? Tonight’s different. We’re watching two teams has just underdone major roster changes. No Davis protecting the rim for the Lakers. No Wiggins providing that steady two-way presence for the Warriors. It’s like both teams showed up to a gunfight but had to leave their new weapons at the arms dealer for a background check.
X-Factor: Moses Moody. With both Wiggins and Kuminga out, Moody needs to channel his inner Moses and part the purple and gold sea. The Warriors’ wing rotation is suddenly looking more mysterious than the reasoning behind the Dallas Mavericks’ trade deadline decisions.
But hey, sometimes the best basketball is played when nobody knows what to expect. Plus, Steph Curry taking on the Lakers without Davis shadowing him around screens is the kind of scenario that has to have the Lakers coaches nervous.
Just remember… this isn’t even the final form of either team. We’re watching the basketball equivalent of a soft opening at a restaurant: the menu isn’t complete yet, but the kitchen’s still cooking up something interesting. And in the NBA, sometimes the most fascinating games happen when both teams are forced to improvise.