Saturday night’s matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers was supposed to be another marquee clash between two of the league’s biggest stars. Instead, it’s shaping up to be a battle of depth, resilience, and opportunity-with both Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic officially ruled out.
Star Power Sidelined
Stephen Curry will miss his third straight game as he continues to manage a case of runner’s knee, an injury he sustained late in the third quarter of last Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons. With the All-Star break just around the corner and only two games remaining before the pause, Golden State may opt to play it safe and give their franchise cornerstone extended rest.
On the other side, the Lakers will be without Luka Doncic, who exited Thursday night’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers with a hamstring strain. Doncic has been putting together another MVP-caliber campaign-averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 boards, and 8.6 assists on 47.3% shooting-but the Lakers will have to find a way to generate offense without him in the lineup.
Momentum Shift in the Bay
Despite the absence of their superstar, the Warriors showed some fight in their last outing, snapping a two-game skid with a gritty 101-97 win over the Phoenix Suns. Golden State closed that game on a 22-5 run, flexing their defensive intensity and getting timely contributions from their supporting cast. That kind of effort will be crucial again on Saturday, especially with Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Seth Curry all sidelined.
Seth has now missed 29 consecutive games due to a sciatic nerve issue, and while his absence hasn’t made headlines like his brother’s, it’s another hit to the team’s backcourt depth. As for Butler, he remains out as well, leaving the Warriors short on both experience and scoring punch.
The Waiting Game for Porzingis
There was some buzz around Kristaps Porzingis potentially making his Warriors debut following Wednesday’s high-profile trade, but that’ll have to wait. The 7-foot-3 Latvian has been ruled out due to Achilles tendon injury management. He had already missed 12 straight games with the same issue while with Atlanta, and though he was expected to return earlier in the week, an illness delayed his comeback.
Golden State fans will have to wait a little longer to see how Porzingis fits into the mix, but when healthy, his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim could be a game-changer for a team looking to climb the Western Conference standings.
Podziemski Battling Through
Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski is listed as probable after battling illness in Thursday’s win over Phoenix. He played just 12 minutes in that game and finished with a -21 plus-minus, an uncharacteristically rough outing for a player who’s brought energy and playmaking to the second unit all season. If he’s feeling closer to 100%, Podziemski could be a key X-factor against a depleted Lakers squad.
Lakers’ Depth in the Spotlight
The Lakers’ injury report is short, but the impact of Doncic’s absence is massive. Without their offensive engine, Los Angeles will need others to step up-especially if they want to maintain their spot near the top of the Western Conference. At 31-19, the Lakers currently sit fifth in the standings, four games ahead of the eighth-place Warriors.
Luke Kennard, acquired in a recent trade, is questionable to make his Lakers debut. The sharpshooter played 46 games for the Hawks this season and lit up the Warriors for 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from deep just last month. If he suits up, his perimeter shooting could help offset the loss of Doncic’s scoring gravity.
Rookie Adou Thiero remains out with an MCL sprain.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just another regular season game-it’s a pivotal Western Conference matchup with playoff positioning on the line. The Lakers are trying to hold their ground in the top half of the standings, while the Warriors are clawing to stay in the mix. Even without the star-studded headliners, there’s plenty of intrigue here.
Golden State enters as the underdog, but with Doncic sidelined, the door is open for them to steal a second straight win and build momentum heading into the break. If they can replicate the defensive intensity and clutch execution they showed against Phoenix, don’t be surprised if they pull off another upset.
No Curry. No Doncic. But still, plenty to watch.