Warriors Face Challenges Before Key Game Against Lakers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Golden State Warriors are preparing to face the Los Angeles Lakers amid injury concerns as the regular season nears its conclusion. Gary Payton II, who has been out for the last three games due to a partial tear in his left thumb, participated in a shootaround at UCLA on Thursday, leading to the anticipation of his return. Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced Payton will be day-to-day moving forward.

“We’re going to get Gary back soon,” Kerr said before the game. Payton has played 58 games this season, averaging 6.6 points and 3.0 rebounds across 14.9 minutes per game.

Jonathan Kuminga, a rising star for the Warriors, remains a game-time decision due to a right pelvic contusion suffered in a previous match against the San Antonio Spurs. Although he participated in warm-ups on Thursday, Kerr indicated that Kuminga’s availability would depend on pregame assessments.

“He’s going to warm up and we’ll see,” Kerr added. Kuminga is averaging 16 points this season, highlighting his significance to the team as they battle for playoff positioning.

The Warriors currently hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 44-31, just half a game ahead of the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers, both at 44-32. The Lakers (46-29) entered the matchup as the No. 3 seed.

Kerr expressed concern about maintaining a strong position to avoid the play-in games, noting the significance of each matchup. “It does feel like a playoff game. With this play-in situation, there’s eight teams that would’ve been in under the old format, and it would have just been about seeding,” he said.

The Warriors’ recent success, including a record of 19-5 since acquiring Jimmy Butler in a midseason trade, contrasts with the Lakers’ struggles following their acquisition of Luka Doncic, resulting in a 15-10 record. Podziemski commented on the Lakers’ transition game, noting their effectiveness despite a slower pace with Doncic.

“They play a little bit different with Luka. They play slower, but they’re still No. 1 in transition points per possession,” Podziemski said. “If we can keep a man on a man and keep them out of transition, we’ll be fine.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the challenge of guarding the Warriors, particularly with Butler’s presence. “They’re doing a lot of the same stuff, and we’ve got to be great with our off-ball discipline and Curry awareness,” Redick stated.

The Warriors will face the Lakers today, followed by a crucial home matchup against the Denver Nuggets and a later game against the Houston Rockets, both of whom are seeded higher than Golden State. With injuries impacting the lineup, Kerr’s decisions will be critical in determining the Warriors’ playoff trajectory.