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Game Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers - 4/4/19

Established 1946 | 7-time NBA Champions

The Warriors head to Los Angeles for a matchup against the Lakers on Thursday night.

Warriors vs. LakersThursday, April 47:30 p.m.Staples CenterLos Angeles, CA

WATCH: TNT
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network

FINAL STRETCH
With only five regular season games remaining, the Dubs make their final regular season visit to Los Angeles as they wrap up their season series with the Lakers on Thursday. The Dubs have taken two of their first three games against the Lakers this season, and a win on Thursday would secure the season series victory over L.A. for the sixth straight season.

LAST TIME OUTThe Warriors made a strong statement toward keeping the No. 1 seed in the West with a 116-102 victory over the Nuggets on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. With the win, the Dubs take a 2.0 game advantage over Denver for first place in the West. » Full Recap

MATCHUP AT A GLANCE

LAST GAME'S STARTERS

GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins

LAL: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and Moritz Wagner

INJURY & ROSTER NOTES

GSW: Andrew Bogut (rest), Shaun Livingston (rest) and Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are out. Team Notes

LAL: LeBron James (sore left groin), Lonzo Ball (left ankle sprain), Kyle Kuzma (left foot peroneal tendinitis), Tyson Chandler (flu), Josh Hart (right knee debridement procedure) and Brandon Ingram (thoracic outlet decompression surgery, right arm) are TBD. Team Notes

BOOGIE GETS HIS GROOVEIt was a big night for DeMarcus Cousins on Tuesday as he held off one of the toughest big men in the league while posting perhaps his best game of the season. The Warriors center recorded a season-high of 28 points and shot 12-for-17 from the field, while also grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds. In addition, his defense on potential MVP candidate Nikola Jokic was superb, leading to a pair of steals and blocks that generated scoring opportunities for the Dubs. Cousins has gotten better as the season has gone on, shooting 56.6 percent from floor over the last 10 games, and over 70 percent for the last two. With the playoffs right around the corner, Cousins’ return to All-Star form couldn’t come at a better time for the Dubs.

TEAM LEADERS

LOS ANGELES SCOUTING REPORT
Despite suffering through multiple injuries and being eliminated from playoff contention, the Lakers have remained competitive, having won four of five games before Tuesday’s loss in Oklahoma City. Tuesday’s game was the first of a season-ending stretch of five straight against Western Conference playoff teams to be. And even without LeBron James, the Lakers have the potential to play the role of spoiler and influence the outcome of playoff seedings in the West. With several members of their normal rotation unavailable, other Lakers have been given the opportunity to put their talent on display. Guard Alex Caruso recently came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points, and former Warriors center JaVale McGee also set a new career-high with 33 points late last month. The Lakers went on a big run without James against the Dubs back on Christmas Day, and if they get a similar result on Thursday it will certainly be one of the top highlights in what has been a trying season in Los Angeles.