Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers: A Rematch with a Focus on the Bigs

When the Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night in San Francisco, all eyes will be on the battle of the big men.

Quinten Post, the Warriors’ newest 7-footer, will be playing in his first Lakers-Warriors rivalry game, and it comes at a crucial time. The Warriors (21-24) are struggling to gain momentum in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Lakers (26-22) are looking to continue their strong play after a dominant win over the Boston Celtics.

This rematch also serves as a chance for Golden State to get revenge for its 115-113 Christmas Day loss to the Lakers.

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Quinten Post Making a Name for Himself

Despite playing just six NBA games since debuting on Dec. 27, Quinten Post delivered a breakout performance on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls:

• 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
• 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range
• First 7-footer in Warriors history to hit 5+ threes in a game

Post’s sharp-shooting ability has provided the Warriors with a new offensive weapon, something he acknowledged after his breakout game:

“Just be myself and don’t be afraid to let it fly,” Post said. “The last few games, we’ve kind of been struggling offensively. So I think that’s why I’m getting a chance. It doesn’t make sense if I come in and don’t play my own game.”

Learning from Stephen Curry

Post credited Stephen Curry for helping him find open shots and learn how to move without the ball in the Warriors’ system.

“I had never played with Steph until (Wednesday at Sacramento). We already saw improvement,” he explained. “There was one play, for example, in the left wing, where I popped to the (3-point line) and he turned around and hit me. The night before, he threw it over his head because he thought I was going to roll. I’m trying to adjust to him, trying to make life easy on him.”

Post’s ability to stretch the floor will be a major factor against a Lakers team that has struggled at times against floor-spacing big men.

Lakers Looking to Build on Momentum

The Lakers have won four of their last five games, including a dominant 117-96 win over the Celtics on Thursday. LeBron James and Anthony Davis continue to lead the way:

• LeBron James: 26.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.9 APG
• Anthony Davis: 24.8 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.5 BPG

In their last matchup with the Warriors on Christmas Day, Davis played just seven minutes before leaving due to an ankle injury. This time, he’ll be on the floor for a full workload.

Will the Lakers Add Another Big Man?

While the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation has been effective, Davis made it clear after Thursday’s win that he prefers to play power forward instead of center.

“We need another big,” Davis said. “I feel like I’ve always been at my best when I’ve been the 4, having (another) big out there. We know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale (McGee) and Dwight (Howard) at the 5 and I’m at the 4.”

The NBA trade deadline is approaching, and the Lakers are rumored to be exploring frontcourt reinforcements. A strong showing by Davis against Golden State’s bigs could emphasize that need.

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Key Matchups to Watch

1. Quinten Post vs. Anthony Davis

Post is emerging as a floor-stretching center, but can he defend Davis in the paint? Davis will likely test him early with post-ups and physical play.

2. LeBron James vs. Warriors’ Defense

James dropped 31 points in the last meeting, exposing Golden State’s lack of size on the perimeter. Can Andrew Wiggins step up defensively?

3. Stephen Curry vs. Lakers’ Perimeter Defense

Curry is always a threat, but the Lakers held him to 18 points on Christmas Day. Will they be able to contain him again?

Prediction: Can the Warriors Get Their Revenge?

This game comes down to Golden State’s ability to defend the Lakers’ size while maintaining efficient outside shooting.

• If Curry and Klay Thompson can get hot from three, the Warriors can control the tempo and neutralize the Lakers’ frontcourt advantage.
• If Davis dominates inside and LeBron dictates pace, the Lakers could grind out another close win.