The Warriors are set to face the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals with Game 1 tipping off on Tuesday at Chase Center. This marks the first postseason matchup between the two storied franchises since 1991, and it will also mark the sixth time in the last nine seasons that the Dubs go up against a team featuring LeBron James with the season on the line (Warriors vs. Cavs in NBA Finals in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; and Warriors at Lakers in 2021 Play-In Tournament).
During the 2022-23 regular season, the Warriors beat the Lakers on Opening Night, which also marked the Dubs’ 2022 NBA Championship Ring Night at Chase Center, but the Warriors would go on to lose each of their next three head-to-head matchups with the Lakers, all of which took place in a three-week span between February and March of this season. Stephen Curry played in just two of the four head-to-head matchups this season, as did LeBron James for the Lakers.
Warriors Best Plays From Regular Season vs. Los Angeles Lakers
As the division rivals get set to battle it out for a trip to the Western Conference Finals, let’s take a closer look at each game between the two teams during the 2022-23 regular season.
Oct. 18 at Chase Center: Warriors 123 - Lakers 109
After receiving their 2022 NBA Championship rings, the Warriors kept the momentum rolling with a 123-109 home victory at Chase Center. Stephen Curry made a pair of 3-pointers during a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter that put the Dubs up by 27. Curry led the Dubs with 33 points in the game, Andrew Wiggins added 20 and Klay Thompson scored nine of his 18 points in the first four and a half minutes of the game-changing third period. Four Warriors reserved had at least eight points, helping the Dubs bench outscore that of the Lakers 41-24. » Full Game Recap
Highlights: Stephen Curry Puts on a Show in Season Opener - 10/18/22
Feb. 11 at Chase Center: Lakers 109 - Warriors 103
A tight game throughout, as no team led by more than eight points, the Warriors went cold in the third quarter and couldn’t recover in the 109-103 home loss to the Lakers. Jordan Poole scored the first 17 points of the fourth quarter for the Dubs, finishing with a game-high 29 points. But the Lakers got big shots from former Warrior D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder and Rui Hachimura in the final quarter, and Los Angeles was able to pull away late in a game played without LeBron James. The Warriors were also without Stephen Curry in the home defeat. » Full Game Recap
Western Conference Semifinals: Game 1 | Warriors vs. Lakers
Feb. 23 at Los Angeles: Lakers 124 - Warriors 111
Playing their first game following the All-Star break, the Warriors suffered a cold-shooting night in a 124-111 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Dubs were without Stephen Curry (lower leg injury) and Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons), but remained competitive in the game into the second half thanks in large part to Kevon Looney and Ty Jerome. Looney came off the bench and had 10 points and 15 rebounds for his third straight double-double, marking the longest streak of his career, and Ty Jerome added 20 points in his reserve role, while Klay Thompson paced the Dubs with 22 points. And while the Dubs were effective in limiting LeBron James and Anthony Davis – the two veteran superstars combined for 25 points on 8-for-25 shooting – they didn’t have an answer for the newly acquired Malik Beasley, who knocked down seven 3-pointers for a game-high 25 points. » Full Game Recap
March 5 at Los Angeles: Lakers 113 - Warriors 105
Stephen Curry returned to action after missing 11 games due to a lower leg injury and had a big fourth quarter, but it wasn’t quite enough to compete with a monster night from Anthony Davis in the Dubs’ 113-105 loss in Los Angeles. The Warriors fell behind by 20 points in the opening quarter but chipped away at the deficit through the second quarter and tied it up in the third period, but the Lakers responded with a 10-0 run. The Warriors would rally to once again tie it up midway through the fourth quarter behind the play of Curry, who scored or assisted the first 16 Warriors points of the period. Curry scored 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers used Anthony Davis’ 39 points and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to pull away from the Dubs. » Full Game Recap