Lakers vs. Warriors Preview: The beginning of the NBA Cup

The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will open their NBA Cup group-stage campaign on Friday at Chase Center. Both teams compete in West Group C alongside the Spurs, Blazers, and Kings, playing for an automatic spot in the knockout round. The Lakers enter the matchup with a 4-1 record, while the Warriors stand at 2-3 after winning two consecutive games.

Golden State enters the rematch following Stephen Curry's 44-point performance against Minnesota, alongside strong contributions from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Los Angeles, led by head coach JJ Redick, seeks another strong showing after defeating the Warriors earlier in the season, though they list Ziaire Williams as questionable while Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero remain sidelined.