PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors, sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a 28-24 record, bring elite three-point volume to this matchup, ranking first in high-frequency shooting from distance while maintaining the league's fourth-best turnover-forcing defense. The Los Angeles Lakers counter as a fifth-seed in the conference at 30-19, boasting top-tier efficiency when attacking the rim and drawing fouls at an elite rate. Both squads limp into this rivalry battle decimated by injuries, with key superstar names stripped away and forcing each organization to lean on depth and role players. Vegas expects a tight, high-scoring affair with the Lakers favored by 2.5 points at home, suggesting oddsmakers believe this defensive-challenged matchup could produce plenty of offense despite the missing talent. The Warriors will need to exploit their perimeter-shooting prowess while managing their weakness in defending three-point attempts, where they rank 24th in the league. Golden State's path to victory involves controlling tempo, minimizing turnovers, and allowing Draymond Green to orchestrate an offense that attacks defensive gaps rather than forcing a pace battle without their scoring stars. The Lakers should embrace a faster game, trusting their shooting efficiency near 50 percent while leaning on Deandre Ayton to dominate the boards and punish Golden State's interior defense, which ranks 25th in defending rim attacks. With so many key players sidelined, execution and which supporting cast steps up will ultimately decide who advances in this Western Conference showdown.