5. Standings
The first thing that we will note before heading into this game is the impact it will have on the overall standings. The Western Conference is always crazy competitive and this season is no exception. Every game is massively important in determining the final standings of the season.
The West already has three different teams with 20+ wins. The Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors are all tied for first place. Meanwhile, only five games separate the two seed from the 8th seed.
Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers have a record of 19-14 and are 3.5 games behind the Dubs. A win over the Warriors would be huge for them as they would shoot up the rankings. In a conference where each team is competitive, home court advantage will be very important.
Securing home-court advantage could very well be the deciding factor in the playoffs. There is no question that both of these teams are aware of the situation and will be fighting to gain an advantage over the competition.