Warriors Win Key Game Against Lakers, Make Push for Top Six Seed

There aren’t many games left in the NBA regular season, but there’s still a lot of basketball to play.

The Warriors and Lakers proved that in an incredibly tight contest on Thursday night where Golden State took a huge step in the playoff picture and moved a game behind Los Angeles in the standings.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The contest had huge playoff implications. If the Lakers won, it would have sent the Warriors back down to the sixth seed and on the brink of falling into the play-in game. If the Warriors won, it would let them keep pace with the purple and gold.

In the end, Golden State came out on top. That victory didn’t just give them a week off, it also put the fourth seed into play with only six games to go.

While seeding isn’t as important as getting into the top six seeds, it still matters. The Warriors have a top-heavy roster. If they can play a weaker first round opponent it would give them rest and do wonders towards a deep playoff run. That’s why beating Los Angeles mattered so much.

Golden Victory, Yellow Defeat

The Warriors and Lakers are two of the hottest teams in the NBA. Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler have fit perfectly into their new roles, which has catapulted both franchises into playoff (not to mention championship) conversations.

Going into Thursday’s game, the Warriors knew they would need to depend on their bench and role players to outperform the Lakers. Curry and Butler could largely cancel out James and Doncic, but if they wanted to leg out the contests they were going to need help. Fortunately for them, that’s what they got.

The game was largely split score-wise. The Warriors won the first two quarters, going up by 13 at half time, while the Lakers won the second half. However, the purple and gold could never quite close the gap and ended up falling 123-116.

Curry led the way, as expected, but the bench really stepped up during a night where Butler had a rather mediocre 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Brandin Podzeimski (28 points) and Jonathan Kuminga (18 points) took over that role and scored when the Warriors needed points.

Both players put up good shots and largely kept Los Angeles on their toes all night. They also opened the door for Curry, who did his share of heavy lifting. The guard continues to thrive in big moments, and the last two games show he’s not losing a step.

Still the Best Shooter Around

The Warriors always want strong play from their entire roster, but if they’re going to win playoff games they still need Curry to lead. That’s exactly what he did against Los Angeles. Just one night removed from his 52-point outburst, the sharpshooter scored 37 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed three rebounds.

That combination was enough to maintain the Warrior’s lead throughout the game, and it was enough to prevent the Lakers from mounting a fourth quarter comeback. Curry simply proved too much for Los Angeles, who looked a bit lost trying to keep up with his blistering pace.

He hit from everywhere on the court, facilitated the offense, and made sure the Lakers couldn’t get set on the defensive side of the ball. His presence went a long way, and once again showed how much he means to the Warriors squad.

The Lakers game could well be a preview of one of the most anticipated matchups of the playoffs. If that’s the case, the Warriors need to continue leaning on Curry. He’s just starting to turn it on. When he’s fully ready, there’s truly no one Golden State can’t beat.

In Need of a Fix

From a Lakers perspective, the loss was tough to swallow. Not only did they have no answer for Curry’s ample shooting, it was also a poor showing from most of the team. There was a distinct lack of energy, which was surprising given the game’s importance.

It was also the first time since signing Doncic that the Lakers looked truly outmatched. James put up strong numbers, but nothing else worked. The team will likely rebound, but they’re going to need to find an answer to opposing superstars if they want to truly turn it around.

“I thought we still did a good job trying to fight out of those situations,” said guard Austin Reaves. “It’s just, we didn’t have enough time to get it all back…Once you go through things like this, you have to adapt and adjust. And that’s what we’ll do.”

If the Lakers want to cement themselves in the playoff race, they still need to win a few games moving forward. They, alongside Golden State, would love some time off before postseason play. If they play like they did against the Warriors, that’s not going to happen.