Los Angeles Lakers ahead Rui Hachimura believes Saturday’s house sport in opposition to the Golden State Warriors has the texture of an elimination contest. This would be the third of 4 video games within the regular-season collection.
“It’s going to be an enormous sport. It’s virtually a playoff sport,” Hachimura stated after apply Friday. “We performed them so many occasions I really feel like — the preseason, the playoffs, and regular-season video games, all that. So we all know one another properly.”
The Lakers have gone 13-8 for the reason that final time they performed the Warriors — a powerful 145-144 double-overtime victory on Jan. 27. Golden State is 15-7 since that loss at Chase Heart.
Per a number of NBA betting sites, the Lakers maintain eighth-best odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are exhibiting higher odds for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Warriors.
One other Bron vs. Steph traditional loading? 👀
🍿 Warriors-Lakers
📺 8:30 ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/BVIS06wsJc— ESPN (@espn) March 16, 2024
In keeping with Land of Basketball, the Lakers and Warriors have performed 10 occasions prior to now 10 months courting again to the 2023 Western Convention Semifinals. The contenders cut up these video games 5-5.
“Who needs it extra?” Rui Hachimura added. “We obtained to indicate the emotion and attempt to get this one tomorrow.”
With lower than 20 video games remaining of the common season, the Lakers (36-31) have a one-game lead over the Warriors (34-31) for the No. 9 spot within the Western Convention standings.
Los Angeles Lakers are 8-3 of their final 11 video games in opposition to Golden State Warriors, 12-6 in previous 18 contests this season
If the playoffs began this weekend, the Lakers would host the Warriors in a single-elimination play-in event sport. The winner would go on to play the dropping staff of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in sport for a first-round berth.
Furthermore, each groups are coming off a loss Wednesday.
The Lakers misplaced 120-107 in opposition to the No. 6 Sacramento Kings. The Warriors performed with out Stephen Curry (ankle) and Draymond Green (decrease again soreness) of their 109-99 defeat to the No. 8 Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers star LeBron James (ankle) is listed as questionable in opposition to Golden State.
What an finish to #NBARivalsWeek 🍿
LeBron, Steph gave us one of many video games of the YEAR tonight because the Lakers topped the Warriors in a double-overtime THRILLER! pic.twitter.com/BRS6Bb9Ykr
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2024
For the reason that Warriors maintain solely a 3 1/2-game lead on the No. 11 Houston Rockets, Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated he’s making ready his staff based mostly on the belief that Curry and Inexperienced are going to play.
“We put together as in the event that they’re going to play,” Ham stated.
Curry was upgraded to possible, whereas Inexperienced stays questionable for this matchup.
For noteworthy betting developments, Golden State is 0-6 in opposition to the unfold in its final six street video games versus Los Angeles. The Dubs are additionally 2-6 of their previous eight conferences with a Pacific Division opponent as properly.
In the meantime, the Lakers are 6-3 of their earlier 9 contests performed on a Saturday. Plus, Los Angeles is 3-6 ATS in its final 9 video games in opposition to a Western Convention staff.
NBA sportsbooks present the Lakers as 5.5-point favorites versus Golden State. Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, Los Angeles holds a 53.2% likelihood of defeating the Warriors.
